Electronic device

ABSTRACT

A novel electronic device is provided. Alternatively an electronic device of a novel embodiment is provided. An electronic device includes a ring portion and a display portion. The display portion is flexible. The display portion has a top surface and a first side surface in contact with at least one side of the top surface. The first side surface has a curved surface. The top surface includes a first display region. The first side surface includes a second display region. The first display region and the second display region are continuously provided. The electronic device is mounted such that the ring portion is in contact with a user&#39;s finger.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/919,951, filed Oct. 22, 2015, now allowed, which claims the benefit of a foreign priority application filed in Japan as Serial No. 2014-217821 on Oct. 24, 2014, both of which are incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

One embodiment of the present invention relates to an electronic device, a display device, a light-emitting device, a power storage device, a driving method thereof, or a manufacturing method thereof.

Note that electronic devices in this specification mean all devices which operate by being supplied with electric power, and electronic devices including power sources, electronic devices and electro-optical devices including power sources such as storage batteries, information terminal devices including storage batteries, and the like are all electronic devices. Note that one embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the above technical field. The technical field of one embodiment of the invention disclosed in this specification and the like relates to an object, a method, or a manufacturing method. In addition, one embodiment of the present invention relates to a process, a machine, manufacture, or a composition of matter. Specifically, examples of the technical field of one embodiment of the present invention disclosed in this specification include a semiconductor device, a display device, a liquid crystal display device, a light-emitting device, a lighting device, a power storage device, a storage device, an imaging device, a method for driving any of them, and a method for manufacturing any of them.

2. Description of the Related Art

Display devices used while being mounted on human bodies, such as display devices mounted on heads (e.g., glasses-type devices), have recently been developed and are referred to as head-mounted displays or wearable displays. Furthermore, watch-type (also referred to as wristband-type) wearable devices are used through communication with tablet terminals.

Input devices such as a key board and a mouse are connected to a laptop computer. Tablet terminals have been in widespread use because they are more suitable for being carried around than laptop computers. In tablet terminals which allow touch inputs, input operation and the like can be performed by touching screens.

Electronic book readers including flexible display devices are disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2.

REFERENCES Patent Documents

-   [Patent Document 1] Japanese Published Patent Application No.     2010-282181 -   [Patent Document 2] Japanese Published Patent Application No.     2010-282183

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order that a user can comfortably wear a display device used while being mounted on a human body, the display device needs to have a light weight and a small size, and in addition, the whole electronic device including a driver device for the display device and a power source needs to have a light weight.

An object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a novel electronic device. Another object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide an electronic device of a novel embodiment.

Another object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a novel display device. Another object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a display device of a novel embodiment.

Another object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a novel input device. Another object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide an input device of a novel embodiment.

Another object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide an electronic device used while being mounted on a finger.

Another object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a power storage device used while being mounted on a finger.

Note that the descriptions of these objects do not disturb the existence of other objects. In one embodiment of the present invention, there is no need to achieve all the objects. Other objects will be apparent from and can be derived from the description of the specification, the drawings, the claims, and the like.

One embodiment of the present invention is an electronic device including a ring portion and a display portion fixed to the ring portion. The display portion has a top surface and a first side surface in contact with at least one side of the top surface. The first side surface has a curved surface. The top surface includes a first display region. The first side surface includes a second display region. The first display region and the second display region are continuously provided.

In the above structure, the first side surface includes a part of a side surface of a cylinder or an elliptical cylinder. Alternatively, the first side surface may have a shape of a part of a side surface of a cylinder or a side surface of an elliptical cylinder.

In the above structure, the ring portion has a band-like region, and the width of the band-like region of the ring portion is smaller than that of the display portion.

In the above structure, the ring portion includes a secondary battery, and the secondary battery is electrically connected to the display portion.

In the above structure, it is preferable that the electronic device be mounted such that the ring portion is in contact with a finger of a user. The electronic device is not only mounted on a finger but may be mounted on an arm or a leg of a robot, a leg of a pet, or a collar for a pet. It is not limited to a pet, and the electronic device can be mounted on an animal kept in a zoo and the like.

A ring-type type information terminal is provided so as to realize weight reduction and miniaturization of an information terminal. For example, a display portion and a power source are provided over a ring portion including a noble metal. Alternatively, a display portion and a power source are provided over a base fixed to the ring portion including a noble metal. When a power source is provided over the base, the capacity of a built-in secondary battery is limited because the electronic device is small. Thus, instead of the ring portion including a noble metal (width: 5 mm or less), a wide band-like ring (width: 5 mm or more) is used, and one or more secondary batteries are arranged along a finger so as to surround the finger; therefore, the capacity of the battery (batteries) are secured.

Because lead and the like in a material in contact with a finger may cause metallic allergy, the ring portion is formed using a material of gold, silver, aluminum, plastic, silicone rubber, or the like. Because a secondary battery may generate heat, titanium, platinum, plastic, silicone rubber, or the like which has low thermal conductivity is used as the material of the ring portion so that heat is hardly sensed when the ring portion is mounted on a finger.

As the one or more secondary batteries which are arranged to surround a finger, a plurality of small secondary batteries may be provided; alternatively, a thin secondary battery having a curved shape may be provided.

The size of a finger changes easily; for example, the size slightly changes at night and in the morning. Thus, not a noble metal but a flexible material such as silicone rubber, polyethylene-telephthalate, polyethylene, or leather is preferably used as a material of the ring portion. Also in that case, the secondary battery and the like provided inside the ring portion are preferably deformable. The use of a bendable secondary battery enables a user to comfortably wear the electronic device.

One embodiment of the present invention disclosed in this specification includes a ring portion and a display portion fixed to the ring portion. The ring portion has a band-like region. The ring portion includes a secondary battery, and the secondary battery is electrically connected to the display portion. The ring portion is formed using a flexible material. A positive electrode and a negative electrode of the secondary battery are surrounded by a film

In the above structure, the display portion has a top surface and a first side surface in contact with at least one side of the top surface; the first side surface has a curved surface; the top surface includes a first display region; the first side surface includes a second display region; and the first display region and the second display region are continuously provided. Since the display region is also provided for the side surface, the display region can be extended.

A finger has an elliptical cross section, and the size of a finger is not uniform, that is, a joint portion is thicker. Thus, the size of the ring portion is preferably determined such that the ring portion can pass through the thickest portion of a finger when the ring is mounted on the finger. When a finger girth is 47 mm to 60 mm, the internal diameter of an annular frame, that is, an approximate diameter of the finger is 15 mm to 19 mm.

The display portion of the ring-type information terminal preferably has a curved surface. Specifically, when a touch input portion is provided for input operation of the information terminal, the display portion of the ring-type information terminal is small and the area of the display region is limited. Thus, operation with a finger is difficult when the display portion only has a flat surface. In the case where the display portion has a curved surface, for example, the display portion has a curved side surface, a variety of input operation is possible by performing scrolling of a screen at a touch input portion of the side surface that is part of the display portion and performing input determination at a touch input portion of the top surface that is part of the display portion. For example, when the ring-type information terminal is mounted on a left finger and the side surface of the display portion is touched with the thumb of the right hand, a number displayed on the top surface of the display portion can be changed by scrolling operation at the side surface, and a desired number can be determined and input by touching the top surface with the index finger of the right hand. Thus, a phone number and the like can be input by one hand.

It is useful for a user to perform a complicated touch input with a finger, which is allowed by the display portion partly having a curved surface.

The structure of the ring-type information terminal is not limited to a ring portion, a base fixed to the ring portion, and a display portion fixed to the base. For example, the display portion may be directly mounted on the ring portion. Alternatively, a detachable attachment may be provided for the base so that the display portion functions as a small information terminal even when the ring portion is detached. Furthermore, a rotating mechanism may be provided between the base and the ring portion so that the orientation of the display portion is changed by the direction of a user's finger. In the case where input needs to be performed by touching the side surface of the display portion, both of left-handed and right-handed users are allowed to perform input operation by selecting a preferred orientation of the display portion.

In the case where the ring-type information terminal has a structure in which the ring portion and the display portion can be separated from each other, it becomes easy to perform maintenance such as charging and repair if the display portion is detachable. If a secondary battery is included not only in the ring portion but also in the display portion so that power can be supplied also to another device, at least one of the secondary batteries of the ring-type information terminal can function as a spare battery. The capacitance of the built-in secondary battery is limited because the electronic device is small. Thus, long-time use becomes possible by replacing the secondary battery on a base side together with the ring portion.

In the case of the structure in which the ring portion and the display portion can be separated from each other, a speaker is mounted on a ring-type information terminal and an attachment portion to be mounted on an ear is provided, whereby the ring-type information terminal can be used as a telephone when a microphone is provided on the ring side and conversation is made by bringing a finger mounted with the ring portion close to a mouth.

Furthermore, since the capacity of the built-in secondary battery is limited, in order to respond to the case of a shortage of the capacity of the battery, a connection portion for connecting a code for supplying power from another information terminal or an antenna for wireless charging may be provided for the ring-type information terminal.

The ring-type information terminal is not limited to independent use and can be used in combination with another electronic device. For example, in the case of using a head-mounted display device, the ring-type information terminal is mounted on one hand or both hands of a user so that the user can perform input operation, and a position of the hand (or the hands) on which the ring-type information terminal is mounted is recognized by sensing a light-emitted display portion of the information terminal by using a photo sensor provided in the head-mounted display device, whereby input operation and the like can be performed utilizing movement of the hand (or the hands).

In the case where the head-mounted display device is of a type in which an image is displayed while the visual field area of both eyes and the periphery are covered to limit the visual field, operation is performed using operation buttons or voice commands under an invisible condition due to the cover. Even in the invisible condition, the position of the hand (or hands) can be displayed by mounting the ring-type information terminal on a hand (or hands) and sensing a light-emitted display portion of the information terminal to overlap with an image display.

The ring-type information terminal is obtained only by a combination of a flexible display device provided with a touch input portion (an active matrix display device including an organic light-emitting EL element, which enables power saving) and a thin bendable secondary battery, and the like, and weight reduction and miniaturization of the information terminal can be realized.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a novel electronic device can be provided. According to one embodiment of the present invention, an electronic device of a novel embodiment can be provided.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a novel display device can be provided. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a display device of a novel embodiment can be provided.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a novel input device can be provided. According to one embodiment of the present invention, an input device of a novel embodiment can be provided.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, an electronic device used while being mounted on a finger can be provided.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a power storage device used while being mounted on a finger can be provided.

Note that the description of these effects does not disturb the existence of other effects. One embodiment of the present invention does not necessarily achieve all the above effects. Other effects will be apparent from and can be derived from the description of the specification, the drawings, the claims, and the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings:

FIGS. 1A to 1D are a perspective view, a top view, and cross-sectional views illustrating an electronic device of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 2A to 2D are a perspective view, a top view, and cross-sectional views illustrating an electronic device of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A to 3D are a perspective view, a top view, and cross-sectional views illustrating an electronic device of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 4A to 4D are a perspective view, a top view, and cross-sectional views illustrating an electronic device of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 5A1, 5A2, 5A3, 5B1, 5B2, and 5B3 are cross-sectional views illustrating a method for manufacturing an electronic device of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 6A to 6F are top views and cross-sectional views illustrating electronic devices of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 7A to 7C are a perspective view of an electronic device of one embodiment of the present invention, and illustrate the states when the electronic device is mounted on a finger;

FIGS. 8A and 8B are perspective views each illustrating an electronic device of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 10A to 10D are a perspective view, top views, and a cross-sectional view illustrating an electronic device of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 11A to 11C are schematic views illustrating application examples when a plurality of electronic devices are used;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 13A1, 13A2, 13B1, and 13B2 are top views and cross-sectional views illustrating electronic devices of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 14A and 14B each illustrate an example of a display portion of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 15A to 15C illustrate structural examples of display panels of one embodiment;

FIGS. 16A and 16B illustrate structure examples of display panels of one embodiment;

FIGS. 17A to 17D illustrate examples of display panels of one embodiment;

FIGS. 18A to 18E illustrate examples of display panels of one embodiment;

FIG. 19 is an external view of a storage battery of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 20A and 20B are cross-sectional views each illustrating a storage battery of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 21A to 21C illustrate the radius of a curvature of a plane;

FIGS. 22A to 22D illustrate the radius of a curvature of a film;

FIGS. 23A to 23D are perspective views and top views illustrating an electronic device of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 24A and 24B are a perspective view and a top view illustrating an electronic device of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 25A to 25F are atop view and perspective views illustrating electronic devices of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 26A to 26C are cross-sectional views illustrating electronic devices of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 27 is a perspective view illustrating an electronic device of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 28 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 29A to 29C are schematic views illustrating one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 30 is a circuit diagram illustrating one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 31 is a circuit diagram illustrating one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 32A to 32C are circuit diagrams illustrating one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 33 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 34 is a flow charts showing one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the following description, and it is easily understood by those skilled in the art that modes and details disclosed herein can be modified in various ways. Further, the present invention is not construed as being limited to description of the embodiments and the examples.

Note that in the structures of the invention described below, the same portions or portions having similar functions are denoted by the same reference numerals in different drawings, and description of such portions is not repeated. Further, the same hatching pattern is applied to portions having similar functions, and the portions are not especially denoted by reference numerals in some cases.

Note that in each drawing described in this specification, the size, the layer thickness, or the region of each component is exaggerated for clarity in some cases. Therefore, embodiments of the present invention are not limited to such a scale.

Note that in this specification and the like, ordinal numbers such as “first”, “second”, and the like are used in order to avoid confusion among components and do not limit the number.

Note that the terms “film” and “layer” can be interchanged with each other depending on the case or circumstances. For example, the term “conductive layer” can be changed into the term “conductive film” in some cases. Also, the term “insulating film” can be changed into the term “insulating layer” in some cases.

In this specification, the term “parallel” indicates that the angle formed between two straight lines is greater than or equal to −10° and less than or equal to 10°, and accordingly also includes the case where the angle is greater than or equal to −5° and less than or equal to 5°. In addition, the term “substantially parallel” indicates that the angle formed between two straight lines is greater than or equal to −30° and less than or equal to 30°. In addition, the term “perpendicular” indicates that the angle formed between two straight lines is greater than or equal to 80° and less than or equal to 100°, and accordingly also includes the case where the angle is greater than or equal to 85° and less than or equal to 95°. In addition, the term “substantially perpendicular” indicates that the angle formed between two straight lines is greater than or equal to 60° and less than or equal to 120°.

Note that in this specification, the display device might include any of the following modules in its category: a module in which a connector such as a flexible printed circuit (FPC) or a tape carrier package (TCP) is attached to a display panel (display device); a module having a TCP provided with a printed wiring board at the end thereof; and a module having an integrated circuit (IC) directly mounted by a chip on glass (COG) method over a substrate over which a display element is formed.

Embodiment 1

In this embodiment, an example of an electronic device 100 of one embodiment of the present invention is described. The electronic device 100 can be used while being mounted on a finger, for example.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the electronic device 100. The electronic device 100 includes a display portion 102 and a ring portion 125. The electronic device 100 may further include a housing 126. As shown in FIGS. 1C and 1D, the display portion 102 is provided so as to be in contact with an outer surface of the housing 126, for example. In the case where the display portion 102 is provided so as to be in contact with the outer surface of the housing 126, a second housing may be further provided so as to be in contact with an outer surface of the display portion 102. Alternatively, a protective cover may be provided on the display portion 102.

The display portion 102 includes a display region over a flexible film. A light-emitting element is provided in the display region. In addition, the display portion 102 may include one or more driving circuits over the flexible film.

FIG. 1B is a top view of the electronic device 100. FIGS. 1C and 1D show cross sections taken along the dashed-dotted lines A-B and C-D in FIG. 1B, respectively. In FIG. 1B, the dashed-dotted lines A-B and C-D are roughly perpendicular to each other.

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1C, the display portion 102 has a top surface and a first side surface in contact with at least one side of the top surface. Note that a connection portion between the display portion and the ring portion is a base portion, and the outermost surface of the display portion that is over the base portion is referred to as the top surface. The first side surface has a curved surface. The display portion 102 may have a curved second side surface that approximately faces the first side surface. Furthermore, the display portion 102 may have a rear surface that faces part of the top surface.

The first side surface and the second side surface each may have a shape of part of a side surface of a cylinder or part of a side surface of an elliptical cylinder. The first side surface and the second side surface each may have a curved surface of which a radius of curvature continuously changes, for example. Furthermore, the first side surface and the second side surface each preferably have a curved surface such that the slope of a tangent line continuously changes from the top surface to the side surface or from the side surface to the bottom surface. It is preferable that the first side surface and the second side surface have no corner portion between the top surface and the side surface and between the side surface and the bottom surface, for example, and that these surfaces form a continuous surface.

In particular, the first side surface and the second side surface each preferably have a developable surface that is obtained by transforming a flat surface without expansion and contraction.

Here, description is given of an example in which the display portion 102 of the electronic device 100 has two side surfaces; however, the display portion 102 may have three or more side surfaces.

In FIG. 1A, a projected portion of the first side surface included in the display portion 102 and a projected portion of a curved surface of the ring portion 125 have different curved directions. In FIG. 1C, the first side surface and the second side surface each have a portion that is substantially perpendicular to the curved direction of the ring portion 125 in the dashed-dotted line A-B.

As shown in FIG. 1C, the electronic device 100 preferably includes a circuit board 106 and a circuit board 107. The circuit board 106 and the circuit board 107 are preferably positioned inside the housing 126.

As the circuit board 106, for example, a flexible printed circuit (FPC) in which a flexible resin film is provided with a wiring can be used. It is preferable that the circuit board 106 be electrically connected to, for example, the one or more driving circuits included in the display portion.

For example, in the case where the electronic device 100 includes a storage battery, it is preferable that the circuit board 107 be electrically connected to the storage battery. Furthermore, the circuit board 107 preferably includes a converter circuit for feeding power from the storage battery.

The display portion 102 includes a display panel. Furthermore, the display portion 102 preferably includes a touch sensor on its surface.

The display panel includes a display region over a flexible film. A light-emitting element is provided in the display region. In addition, the display panel may include one or more driving circuits over the flexible film.

As the touch sensor included in the display portion 102, for example, a sheet-like capacitive touch sensor may be provided to overlap with the display panel. Examples of the capacitive touch sensor are a surface capacitive touch sensor and a projected capacitive touch sensor.

Examples of the projected capacitive touch sensor are a self-capacitive touch sensor and a mutual capacitive touch sensor, which differ mainly in the driving method. The use of a mutual capacitive type is preferable because multiple points can be sensed simultaneously.

Alternatively, as a touch sensor, a so-called in-cell touch panel that has a touch sensor function may be provided as the display panel itself. For the in-cell touch panel, a capacitive touch sensor may be used or an optical touch sensor using a photoelectric conversion element may be used. Alternatively, a power generating system which includes a power generating element including a photoelectric conversion element may be installed in the electronic device 100. The electronic device 100 may further include other sensors such as a pulse sensor, a temperature sensor, a positional information detection sensor (e.g., a GPS), an acceleration sensor, and an angular velocity sensor, in addition to the touch sensor.

As shown in FIG. 1D, the display portion 102 and the housing 126 are preferably provided over the ring portion 125.

The electronic device 100 can be used while being mounted on a finger, for example. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1D, the ring portion 125 included in the electronic device 100 preferably has a shape along a finger.

The ring portion 125 preferably has a round surface. Alternatively, the ring portion 125 preferably has a shape along a side surface of an elliptical cylinder. The ring portion 125 is not limited to an annular shape, for example, and may partly have an arch-like shape, a C-like shape, an elliptical shape, or an elliptical shape part of which is cut.

The ring portion 125 is preferably flexible. When the ring portion 125 has flexibility, for example, the ring portion 125 is easily mounted on or removed from a finger. When the electronic device 100 is mounted on or removed from a finger, it is preferable that a region with a large radius of curvature in the cross section of the ring portion 125 not be substantially deformed and end portions thereof be bendable.

The housing 126 may be flexible, for example. When the housing 126 is flexible, the display portion 102 may be bent in the C-D direction shown in FIG. 1B. The display portion 102 is preferably bendable because breakdown of the display portion 102 may hardly occur when the electronic device 100 is mounted on or removed from a finger.

Examples of the housing 126 include glass, quartz, plastic, a flexible board, an attachment film including a resin, paper including a fibrous material, and a base film. Examples of glass include barium borosilicate glass, aluminoborosilicate glass, and soda lime glass. Examples of the flexible substrate, the attachment film, the base film, and the like are substrates of plastics typified by polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyether sulfone (PES), and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Another example is a synthetic resin such as acrylic. Furthermore, polypropylene, polyester, polyvinyl fluoride, and polyvinyl chloride can be given as examples. Other examples are polyamide, polyimide, aramid, epoxy, an inorganic vapor deposition film, and the like. Alternatively, a board including metal, stainless steel, or stainless steel foil, a board including tungsten or tungsten foil, paper, a semiconductor (such as a single crystal semiconductor or a silicon semiconductor), or the like may be used.

As a material of the ring portion 125, gold, silver, aluminum, plastic, silicone rubber, polyethylene-telephthalate, polyethylene, leather, or the like is used. Because a secondary battery may generate heat, titanium, platinum, silicone rubber, or the like which has low thermal conductivity is used as the material of the ring portion 125 so that heat is hardly sensed when the ring is mounted on a finger.

A secondary battery is provided inside the housing or the ring portion 125. As the secondary battery which is arranged to surround a finger, a plurality of small secondary batteries may be provided; alternatively, a thin secondary battery having a curved shape may be provided.

The size of a finger changes easily; for example, the size slightly changes at night and in the morning. Thus, not a noble metal but a flexible material such as silicone rubber, polyethylene-telephthalate, polyethylene, or leather is preferably used as a material of the ring portion 125. Also in that case, the secondary battery and the like provided inside the ring portion 125 are preferably deformable. The use of a bendable secondary battery as the secondary battery provided inside the ring portion 125 enables a user to comfortably wear the electronic device.

Alternatively, an alloy material having high elasticity may be used, for example, an amorphous alloy (also referred to as metal glass) containing zirconium, copper, nickel, and titanium is used. This amorphous alloy includes a glass transition region at room temperature, which is also referred to as a bulk-solidifying amorphous alloy and substantially has an amorphous atomic structure. By a solidification casting method, an alloy material is molded in a mold of at least part of the housing and coagulated so that the part of the housing is formed using a bulk-solidifying amorphous alloy. The amorphous alloy may include beryllium, silicon, niobium, boron, gallium, molybdenum, tungsten, manganese, iron, cobalt, yttrium, vanadium, phosphorus, carbon, or the like in addition to zirconium, copper, nickel, and titanium. Note that the term alloy refer to both a complete solid solution alloy which has a single solid phase structure and a partial solution that has two or more phases. The use of an amorphous alloy for the ring portion 125 allows the housing to have high elasticity. With the use of such an amorphous alloy, the ring portion 125 can have flexibility and high strength. The amorphous alloy can also be used for the housing 126.

The description of the materials used for the housing 126 can be referred to as a material that can be used for the ring portion 125. The use of the same material for the housing 126 and the ring portion 125 makes the joint thereof inconspicuous and can prevent uneven abrasion in a contact area.

FIGS. 26A to 26C show variations of the cross section in FIG. 1C. In FIG. 1C, the side surface of the display portion has a semicircular cross section, while in FIG. 26A, the side surface of the display portion has a quarter-circle-shaped cross section. As shown in FIGS. 26B and 26C, one of the side surfaces of the display portion may be a flat surface, and the other may be a curved surface. In FIG. 26B, the curved side surface has a semicircular cross section, while in FIG. 26C, the curved side surface has a quarter-circle-shaped cross section.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the electronic device 100. FIG. 2B is a top view of the electronic device 100. FIGS. 2C and 2D show cross sections taken along the dashed-dotted lines A-B and C-D in FIG. 2B, respectively. The electronic device 100 in FIG. 2A includes the display portion 102, the housing 126, and the ring portion 125. The display portion 102 has a curved first side surface. The display portion 102 may have a curved second side surface that substantially faces the first side surface. In FIG. 2A, the orientation of the display portion when seen from the top surface differs by 90 degrees from that of the electronic device 100 in FIG. 1A. In FIG. 2D, for example, the first side surface and the second side surface each have a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the dashed-dotted line C-D.

As shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 2A, the display portion 102 has, for example, the top surface in the form of an approximately quadrangle, and the first side surface and the second side surface which are in contact with two facing sides of the top surface.

Here, the top surface, the first side surface, and the second side surface are denoted by a display region 151, a display region 152, and a display region 153, respectively. A plurality of display regions are preferably provided.

The display region 152 may be provided over the first side surface and two planes of the top surface and the bottom surface of the display portion 102 which are adjacent to the first side surface. Furthermore, the display region 153 may be provided over the second side surface and two planes of the top surface and the bottom surface which face each other of the display portion 102 which are adjacent to the second side surface.

With such a structure, display can be performed not only on the top surface of the display portion 102, as in conventional electronic devices, but also on a side surface of the display portion 102. In particular, a display region is preferably provided along two or more side surfaces of the display portion 102 because the variety of display is further increased.

The display region 151 provided on the top surface of the display portion 102 and the display regions provided along the side surfaces of the display portion 102 may be independently used as display regions to display different images or the like, or two or more of the display regions may display one image or the like. For example, a continuous image may be displayed on the display region 151 provided on the top surface of the display portion 102, the display region 152 provided along the side surface of the display portion 102, or the like.

In the display portion 102 of the electronic device 100, the display regions are provided on the curved first and second side surfaces, so that the area of the display regions of the display portion 102 can be increased compared to the case where the display region is provided only on the top surface of the display portion 102.

Variations of the cross sections in FIGS. 1B and 1C are shown in FIGS. 13A1 and 13B1. In FIGS. 13A1 and 13B1, the width 201 of the display portion 102 is larger than the width 202 of the ring portion 125. Furthermore, a width 203 of the top surface of the display portion 102 is smaller than the width 202 of the ring portion 125.

Other variations of the cross sections in FIGS. 1B and 1C are shown in FIGS. 13A2 and 13B2. In FIGS. 13A2 and 13B2, the width 201 of the display portion 102 is larger than the width 202 of the ring portion 125. The width 203 of the top surface of the display portion 102 is larger than the width 202 of the ring portion 125. Here, when the width 203 of the top surface of the display portion 102 is larger than the width of the ring portion 125, the display portion 102 may be easily brought into contact with part of a finger when the electronic device 100 is mounted on the finger, for example. Even in such a case, because the side surfaces of the display portion 102 are curved and round, the electronic device 100 can fit a body more snugly.

FIGS. 8A and 8B show examples of use states of the display portion 102 included in the electronic device 100 in FIGS. 1A to 1D and FIGS. 2A to 2D. In FIG. 8A, on the display region 151 provided on the top surface of the display portion 102, image data 167, text data 162, a plurality of icons 161 associated with an application or the like, and the like are displayed. The icons 161 associated with an application or the like, and the like are displayed on the display region 152 provided on the side surface of the display portion 102. It is preferable that a button for power-on or -off of the electronic device 100, a button for a lock or a start of the screen, and the like be provided in the display region 152. These buttons are preferably touch-sensor buttons. By the use of the touch-sensor buttons, the area occupied by the buttons and a peripheral portion connected to the buttons can be made smaller compared to the case where a mechanical button that is physically provided is provided. Thus, the electronic device 100 can be made thinner, which is preferable. By thinning the electronic device 100, the electronic device 100 can fit a body such as a finger more snugly. Note that the electronic device 100 may have both touch-sensor buttons and mechanical buttons.

In addition, transmitter information (e.g., a name, a phone number, an e-mail address, and the like of a transmitter) may be displayed on not only the display region 151 but also a display region provided along the side surface such as the display region 152, and the like when, for example, a phone call or a text message is received. FIG. 8A shows an example of the case where transmitter information is displayed to roll across the display region 152 when an e-mail is received.

As shown in FIG. 8B, the image data 167, the icons 161, and the like may be continuously displayed on the display regions 151 to 153. The continuous display on the display regions 151 to 153 enables the display regions to display a larger image. Thus, compared with the case where the image data 167 and the like are displayed only on the display region 151, the display regions can be seen from a wide angle; thus, visibility can be improved.

The display region of the display portion 102 may be circular or elliptical. FIG. 25A shows a top view of the display portion 102 before being placed in the housing 126. FIGS. 25B to 25F are electronic devices 100 each provided with the display portion 102 having a circular display region. FIG. 25D shows an example in which the circular display region includes three display regions (the display regions 151, 152, and 153), and FIGS. 25B, 25C, 25E, and 25F each show an example in which the circular display region includes two display regions (the display regions 151 and 152). The display regions 152 and 153 have curved surfaces. FIG. 25B shows an example in which the display regions are formed on a top surface and a curved side surface in contact with a right side of the top surface. FIG. 25C shows an example in which the display regions are formed on a top surface and a curved side surface in contact with a left side of the top surface. FIG. 25D shows an example in which the display regions are formed on a top surface and curved side surfaces in contact with left and right sides of the top surface. FIG. 25E shows an example in which the display regions are formed on a top surface and a curved side surface in contact with a lower side of the top surface. FIG. 25F shows an example in which the display regions are formed on a top surface and a curved side surface in contact with an upper side of the top surface.

During a standby time during which the electronic device is not used, display on the display region 151 provided along the top surface of the display portion 102 may be turned off (e.g., black display) and data may be displayed only on the display region 152 or the like provided along the side surface. Display on the display region 151 which has an area larger than those of the other display regions is not performed, so that power consumption in a standby time can be reduced.

Note that the display region 153 is not necessarily provided in the electronic device 100.

The electronic device 100 may have a button. FIG. 23A shows an example in which the electronic device 100 in FIG. 1A has a button 128. FIG. 23B is a top view of the electronic device 100 in FIG. 23A. FIGS. 23C and 23D show enlarged views of regions surrounded by the dashed lines in FIGS. 23A and 23B, respectively. The button 128 shown in FIGS. 23A to 23D is an example of a button called a winding knob (push button or crown); however, the shape and the function of the button are not limited to this example.

FIG. 24A shows an example in which the electronic device 100 in FIG. 2A has the button 128. FIG. 24B shows a top view of the electronic device 100 in FIG. 24A. As shown in FIGS. 24A and 24B, the electronic device may have the button 128 on its side surface. As the button 128, the mechanical button described above may be used, for example.

FIG. 27 shows a variation of the electronic device 100 in FIG. 2A. FIG. 27 shows an example in which an indentation is provided in part of the curved first side surface, here, at an upper half part, and the buttons 128 are provided in that part.

In the example of FIG. 9A, the electronic device 100 is mounted on a finger. FIG. 9B is an enlarged view of a region of the electronic device 100 that is surrounded by the dashed line in FIG. 9A.

For example, display of transmitter information on the display region 152 at e-mail reception as described above is easily viewed.

Furthermore, for example, the display region 153 may be used as lighting as shown in FIG. 9B.

FIGS. 1A to 1D and FIGS. 2A to 2D show examples in each of which at least part of the display portion 102 included in the electronic device 100 is in contact with an outer surface of the housing 126. However, as shown in FIGS. 3A to 3D, the display portion 102 may be provided inside the housing 126. In the case where the display portion 102 is provided inside the housing 126, the housing 126 preferably has a light-transmitting property.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the electronic device 100. FIG. 3B is a top view of the electronic device 100. FIGS. 3C and 3D show cross sections taken along the dashed-dotted lines A-B and C-D in FIG. 3B, respectively. The electronic device 100 includes the display portion 102, the housing 126, the circuit board 106, and the circuit board 107. The display portion 102 has the curved first side surface. The display portion 102 may have the curved second side surface that substantially faces the first side surface. As shown in FIGS. 3C and 3D, at least part of the display portion 102 is placed inside the housing 126. Furthermore, the circuit board 106 and the circuit board 107 are preferably provided inside the housing 126. Furthermore, it is preferable that the circuit board 106 be electrically connected to the display portion 102.

The display portion 102 is provided inside the housing 126; thus, the strength of the structure can be increased. Furthermore, in some cases, the electronic device 100 is not easily broken even when the display portion 102 collides with an object due to falling or collision.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the electronic device 100. FIG. 4B is a top view of the electronic device 100. FIGS. 4C and 4D are cross sections taken along the dashed-dotted lines A-B and C-D in FIG. 4B, respectively. In FIG. 4A, the display portion 102 has a top surface that is substantially quadrangular, and first to fourth side surfaces in contact with four sides of the top surface. The first to fourth side surfaces have curved surfaces. The first and second side surfaces each may have a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the dashed-dotted line A-B as shown in FIG. 4C, and the third and fourth side surfaces each may have a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the dashed-dotted line C-D as shown in FIG. 4D. Provision of the display regions for the top surface and the first to fourth side surfaces is preferable because the variety of display is further increased.

Display can be performed so that the text data 164 or the like rolls (moves) across a plurality of display regions of the electronic device 100. By performing display across two or more surfaces of the display portion 102 in this manner, a user can be prevented from missing displayed data regardless of the direction of the electronic device when, for example, a phone call is received.

Here, as in examples illustrated in FIGS. 6A to 6F, the electronic device 100 may have a structure in which end portions of the ring portion 125 are placed to face each other with the housing 126 provided therebetween. FIG. 6A is a top view of the electronic device 100. FIGS. 6B and 6C show cross sections taken along the dashed-dotted lines A-B and C-D in FIG. 6A, respectively. FIG. 6D is a top view of the electronic device 100. FIGS. 6E and 6F show cross sections taken along the dashed-dotted lines A-B and C-D in FIG. 6D, respectively. FIGS. 6A to 6C show an example in which the ring portion 125 is provided in contact with a lower surface of the housing 126. FIGS. 6D to 6F show an example in which the ring portion 125 is provided in contact with side surfaces of the housing 126.

FIG. 7B shows an example in which a ring-type electronic device is 101 mounted on a finger.

The electronic device 101 shows an example of a structure that is partly different from the structure of the electronic device 100. The electronic device 101 has a curved display portion 109 as shown in FIG. 7A, and includes cylindrical housings 105 on its edge. The cylindrical housings 105 may be referred to as ring portions. A flexible material such as silicone rubber is used for the housings 105, and a passive matrix or an active matrix display device including an organic EL element using plastic film is used for the display portion 109. Furthermore, the display portion 109 is flexible, and a thin secondary battery is provided between the display portion 109 and a finger 116 so as to partly overlap with the display portion 109. As the secondary battery, a lithium-ion secondary battery sealed with a laminate film is used.

FIG. 7C illustrates an example in which the ring-type electronic device is 101 is mounted on a finger, and another device 117 such as a wrist watch or a watch-type information terminal is mounted on an arm. The electronic device 101 may be provided with a transmitting/receiving circuit so that display of the ring-type electronic device 101 can be changed by transmission of a radio signal from the device 117. Furthermore, in the case where the capacity of either secondary battery is reduced, power may be wirelessly supplied to the one with reduced power, or power may be supplied by connection of a power code or the like.

FIG. 10A shows an example of a perspective view of the electronic device 100. FIG. 10B is a top view of the electronic device 100 in FIG. 10A. FIG. 10C is a cross section taken along the dashed-dotted line A-B in FIG. 10B. FIG. 10D is an enlarged view of a region that is surrounded by the dashed line in FIG. 10B. In an example of FIG. 10B, the cross section of the electronic device 100 has an annular shape. The display portion 102 includes a display region 151 having an arch shaped cross-section and a display region 152 that is adjacent to the display region 151 and has a curved surface over the side surface to the rear surface of the display portion 102.

Note that the display region is provided on only one side surface of the display portion 102, in FIGS. 10A to 10D; however, the display region may be formed on both side surfaces. For example, a third display region being adjacent to the display region 151 and facing the display region 152 may be provided.

As shown in FIG. 10D, an FPC 104 electrically connected to the display portion 102, the circuit board 107 electrically connected to the FPC 104, and a storage battery 108 electrically connected to the circuit board 107 are preferably provided inside the ring portion 125 of the electronic device 100.

As the storage battery 108, for example, a thin storage battery whose exterior body is formed using a laminate film can be used. The use of a flexible laminate film for the exterior body enables the storage battery 108 to have flexibility. As the storage battery 108, for example, a coin-type (or button-type) storage battery, a rectangular storage battery, or a cylindrical storage battery can be used. FIG. 10D shows an example in which a thin storage battery that has flexibility is used as the storage battery 108.

In the other examples of the electronic device 100 shown in FIGS. 1A to 1D, FIGS. 2A to 2D, FIGS. 3A to 3D, FIGS. 4A to 4D, FIGS. 5A1, 5A2, 5A3, 5B1, 5B2, and 5B3, FIGS. 6A to 6F, FIGS. 9A and 9B, FIGS. 23A to 23D, FIGS. 24A and 24B, FIGS. 26A to 26C, and FIG. 27, the electronic device 100 preferably includes a storage battery. For the storage battery, the description of the storage battery 108 can be referred to. Here, the use of a thin storage battery having flexibility enables the storage battery to be placed along the curved surfaces of the display portion 102, the housing 126, and the like. The storage battery 108 has flexibility and thus can be deformed easily. After the other components such as the circuit board 106 and the circuit board 107 are placed, the storage battery 108 can be deformed in accordance with an open space and placed. Thus, the electronic device 100 can be made thin in some cases, which is preferable.

Next, an example of a method for manufacturing the electronic device 100 is described with reference to FIGS. 5A1, 5A2, 5A3, 5B1, 5B2, and 5B3. FIGS. 5A1, 5A2, and 5A3 show a method for manufacturing the electronic device 100 having the cross section shown in FIG. 1C. FIGS. 5B1, 5B2, and 5B3 show a method for manufacturing the electronic device 100 having the cross section shown in FIG. 1D.

First, as shown in FIGS. 5A1 and 5B1, the display portion 102 and the housing 126 are prepared. Here, an example is illustrated in which the housing 126 has an opening; however, the housing 126 does not necessarily have the opening. The housing 126 has roundness 136 in the cross section shown in FIG. 5A1. The circuit board 106 is connected to the display portion 102. The display portion 102 has flexibility. A method for manufacturing the flexible display portion 102 is described later.

Next, as shown in FIG. 5A2, the display portion 102 is provided so as to be wrapped around the outer surface of the housing 126 along the A-B direction. Here, for example, a adhesive layer may be provided between the housing 126 and the display portion 102 so that the display portion 102 is bonded to the outer surface of the housing 126. The display portion 102 is provided so as to be in contact with the outer surface of the housing 126 having the roundness 136, so that the display portion 102 that has curved side surfaces can be formed.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 5A3 and 5B3, the display portion 102 provided on the outer surface of the housing 126 is provided on the ring portion 125. Here, for example, a adhesive layer may be provided between the display portion 102 and the ring portion 125 so that the display portion 102 and the ring portion 125 are bonded to each other.

Through the above steps, the electronic devices 100 shown in FIGS. 1A to 1D, FIGS. 2A to 2D, FIGS. 3A to 3D, and FIGS. 4A to 4D can be manufactured.

The case where the display portion 102 is provided in the electronic device 100 shown in FIG. 10A is further described with reference to FIGS. 14A and 14B. FIG. 14A is a top view of the display portion 102. The display portion 102 preferably includes the display region 151 and the display region 152. When the display region 152 having a curved surface is provided, the housing 126 which has a curved side surface is prepared and the display portion 102 is deformed along the side surface of the housing 126. Furthermore, for example, in the display portion 102, cuts 135 may be provided in a region of the display region 152 as shown in FIG. 14B. By the cuts 135, creases and the like are not easily formed in the display region 152 in some cases, which is preferable.

FIG. 11A shows an example in which an electronic device is mounted on each of the five fingers 116 of the left hand. The display portion 109 can emit light so that an image is displayed, and movement of the fingers 116 can be acquired by sensing an emission position by using an image sensor and the like. The display portion 109 can emit light even in a dark place; thus, the position can be recognized by an imaging means.

FIG. 11B shows another example, in which electronic devices mounted on fingers are overlapped with a display portion 119 of another device 118 such a tablet information terminal and light emission from the display portion 109 is sensed by a photosensor included in the display portion 119, whereby the position is specified. In that case, input to the tablet information terminal, and the like can be performed without contact.

FIG. 11C shows another example, in which input to the tablet information terminal, and the like are performed using an image sensor 121 of an eyeglass-type electronic device 122. Electronic devices mounted on fingers are overlapped with the display portion 119 of the device 118 such as a tablet information terminal. Here, the term “overlap” means that an image is taken so that the electronic devices are overlapped with the display portion 119 when seen from the image sensor 121; even in the case where the electronic devices mounted on the fingers are apart from the display portion 119 of the tablet information terminal, the image sensor 121 senses light emission from the display portion 109, so that the position is specified. Also in that case, input to the tablet information terminal, and the like can be performed without contact. An example of using a tablet information terminal is given here; even with a display projected on a screen by a projector or the like, the position of the display portion 109 of the electronic device and the position of the screen can be linked. It is not limited to the example in which a person performs input operation using a plurality of ring-type information terminals. More than one person may perform the input operation. Furthermore, a plurality of electronic devices can be mounted on fingers of more than one person, and they can enjoy a game and the like using a common display screen while moving each hand.

The screen size in the case where the electronic device 100 is provided with the display portion 102 is described. The maximum screen size (X×Y) is the product of X of 47 mm to 60 mm representing a finger girth and Y of 20 mm to 30 mm. Note that the screen size here does not refer to the size in a curved state but refers to the size in a flat state. A plurality of display portions may be provided in one electronic device; for example, a second display portion smaller than a first display portion may be included in an electronic device.

The thickness of the thinnest portion of the electronic device 100 provided with the display portion 102 can be less than or equal to 5 mm. The thickness of the thickest portion of the electronic device 100, which is a portion where the display portion 102 and the circuit board 106 are connected to each other, can be less than 1 cm.

The total weight of the electronic device 100 can be less than 100 g.

[Structure Example of Display Panel]

Next, a structure example of a display panel included in the display portion 102 is described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 15A is a schematic top view of a display panel 110 described below. The display panel 110 includes a flexible substrate 120 and a plurality of pixels over the substrate 120. The display panel 110 includes a first display region 111, a second display region 112, a third display region 113, and a fourth display region 114. Note that different hatching patterns of display regions are used here for clarification.

The outline of the first display region 111 is a quadrangle. The second display region 112 is provided in contact with one (a first side 131) of four sides forming the outline of the first display region 111. The width of the first display region 111 preferably coincides with that of the second display region 112 in a direction parallel to the first side 131. The third display region 113 is provided in contact with a second side 132 which is in contact with the first side 131. The width of the first display region 111 preferably coincides with that of the third display region 113 in a direction parallel to the second side 132. Furthermore, a corner (first corner) formed by the first side 131 and the second side 132 preferably meets one of corners of the second display region 112 and one of corners of the third display region 113.

As illustrated in FIG. 15A, the substrate 120 includes a notch portion 138 in a region facing the first display region 111 with the first corner formed by the first side 131 and the second side 132 provided therebetween. Owing to the notch portion 138, the second display region 112 and the third display region 113 can be bent in different directions.

FIG. 15A illustrates a structure in which the fourth display region 114 is provided in contact with a third side 133 opposite to the first side 131. One of corner portions of the fourth display region 114 preferably meets a second corner portion formed by the second side 132 and the third side 133. The substrate 120 includes a notch portion similar to the notch portion 138 in a region facing the first display region 111 with the second corner portion provided therebetween. With such a structure, the fourth display region 114 and the third display region 113 can be bent in different directions.

Part of the substrate 120 is provided with an FPC 103 which supplies a signal and electric power for driving the pixels. Although FIG. 15A illustrates a structure in which an IC 123 is mounted on the FPC 103 by a COF method, the IC 123 is not necessarily provided. The IC 123 may be directly mounted on the substrate 120 by a COF method. Here, the width of the FPC 103 is preferably smaller than that of the first display region 111. Thus, particularly in the case where the second display region 112 and the fourth display region 114 are bent and the first display region 111 is flat, a junction portion of the FPC 103 and the substrate 120 is not bent and therefore, the FPC 103 can be prevented from being peeled.

FIG. 15B is a schematic top view in which a region A in FIG. 15A is enlarged.

In FIG. 15B, a first driver circuit 141 which outputs a signal for driving pixels included in the first display region 111 and the second display region 112 to the first display region 111 and the second display region 112 and a second driver circuit 142 which outputs a signal for driving pixels included in the third display region 113 to the third display region 113 are provided. The first driver circuit 141 is provided along a side of the second display region 112 which is opposite to the first side 131. The second driver circuit 142 is provided along a side of the third display region 113 which is a side in a direction in which the first side 131 extends. The first driver circuit 141 and the second driver circuit 142 are electrically connected to each other through a wiring 145, and a signal input from the FPC 103 can be supplied to the second driver circuit 142 through the wiring 145.

FIG. 15C illustrates a structure different from that in FIG. 15B. In FIG. 15C, a driver circuit 143 is provided instead of the first driver circuit 141. The driver circuit 143 can output a signal for driving pixels included in the first display region 111 and the second display region 112 and a signal for driving pixels included in the third display region 113. The signals output from the driver circuit 143 can be output to wirings electrically connected to the pixels in the third display region 113, through wirings 146.

As each of the first driver circuit 141, the second driver circuit 142, and the driver circuit 143, for example, a circuit serving as a gate driver circuit or a source driver circuit can be used; preferably, a gate driver circuit is used. In this case, the IC 123 preferably has a function as a source driver circuit.

Although a so-called driver integrated type display panel including a driver circuit over the substrate 120 is described here, a driver circuit is not necessarily provided over the substrate 120.

As described above, the second driver circuit 142 which outputs a signal for driving the pixels included in the third display region 113 or the wirings 146 which supplies a signal for driving the pixels is provided along the side of the third display region 113; thus, the area of the notch portion 138 can be increased and the area of a non-display portion with respect to a surface area of the display panel 110 can be reduced. In the case where the third display region 113 is bent in a direction parallel to the second side 132, a structure in which a driver circuit is not provided in a bent portion as illustrated in FIG. 15C is preferable. Since electrical characteristics of a semiconductor element such as a transistor in a driver circuit might be changed owing to stress caused by bending, instability of an output signal from the driver circuit can be prevented with such a structure.

Although FIGS. 15A to 15C illustrate the structure in which the first to fourth display regions are provided, the first to third display regions may be provided or a fifth display region 115 may be additionally provided. FIG. 16A is a schematic top view showing the case where the fifth display region 115 is provided. A wiring between the fifth display region 115 and the second display region 112 and a driver circuit may have structures similar to those in FIG. 15B or FIG. 15C.

Furthermore, FIG. 16B illustrates an example of a structure where an FPC 103 a is provided. The FPC 103 a has a function of supplying a signal and electric power to, for example, the driver circuits described above. In the case where the display panel does not include a driver circuit, an IC may be mounted on the FPC 103 a by a COF method or the like.

Here, an oxide semiconductor is preferably used for semiconductor devices such as transistors used for pixels included in display regions or driver circuits in the display panel 110. In particular, an oxide semiconductor having a wider band gap than silicon is preferably used. A semiconductor material having a wider band gap and a lower carrier density than silicon is preferably used because off-state leakage current of the transistor can be reduced.

For example, the oxide semiconductor preferably contains at least indium (In) or zinc (Zn). The oxide semiconductor more preferably contains an In-M-Zn-based oxide (M is a metal such as Al, Ti, Ga, Ge, Y, Zr, Sn, La, Ce, or Hf).

As the semiconductor layer, it is particularly preferable to use an oxide semiconductor film including a plurality of crystal parts whose c-axes are aligned perpendicular to a surface on which the semiconductor layer is formed or the top surface of the semiconductor layer and in which the adjacent crystal parts have no grain boundary.

There is no grain boundary in such an oxide semiconductor; therefore, generation of a crack in an oxide semiconductor film which is caused by stress when a display panel is bent is prevented. Therefore, such an oxide semiconductor can be preferably used for a flexible display panel which is used in a bent state, or the like.

The use of such materials for the semiconductor layer makes it possible to provide a highly reliable transistor in which a change in the electrical characteristics is suppressed.

Charge accumulated in a capacitor through a transistor can be held for a long time because of the low off-state current of the transistor. When such a transistor is used for a pixel, operation of a driver circuit can be stopped while a gray scale of an image displayed in each display region is maintained. As a result, an electronic device with an extremely low power consumption can be obtained.

Note that details of a preferable mode and a formation method of an oxide semiconductor that can be used for the semiconductor layer are described in Embodiment 3.

In addition to the display device, the electronic device of one embodiment of the present invention may include another semiconductor circuit, e.g., a control circuit for preventing overcharge, an imaging element, a sensor such as a gyroscope sensor or an acceleration sensor, a touch panel, or the like. Furthermore, a sensor or the like for measuring a pulse, a surface temperature, a blood oxygen level, or the like by touch on part of a human body may be included. For example, when an imaging element is included in addition to the display device, a taken image can be displayed on the display device. When a sensor such as a gyroscope sensor or an acceleration sensor is included, the finger-mounted electronic device can be powered on or off depending on the orientation or movement thereof to reduce power consumption. When a touch panel is included, the electronic device can be operated or information can be input by touching a predetermined position of the touch panel. When a memory and a CPU are included in addition to the display device in the above structure, a wearable computer can be obtained.

When the electronic device of one embodiment of the present invention is used as the display portion of the finger-mounted electronic device together with a display portion of a conventional portable information terminal, the electronic device of one embodiment of the present invention can be used as a sub-display.

A desired color or image data which is selected by a user from a memory and which is stored in a memory in the ring-type information terminal can be shown in the display portion of the ring-type information terminal.

In this embodiment, an example is illustrated in which a ring-type information terminal is mounted on a human finger; however, the present invention is not particularly limited to this, and the display portion may be provided over a frame where a plurality of rings through which two or more fingers pass are connected. In that case, the width of the display portion can be larger than the widths of two or more fingers.

In this embodiment, an example of a ring-type information terminal mounted on a human finger is illustrated; however, the present invention is not particularly limited to this, and a ring-type information terminal may be mounted on a finger of a robot. In that case, the size of the finger of the robot may be larger than that of a human finger. Alternatively, the information terminal may be mounted on a leg of a pet, or may be mounted on while being hung on a collar. The information terminal preferably includes a memory which can store identification information of a pet that has strayed for some reason, contact information, location information, and the like. It is not limited to a pet, and the information terminal can be mounted on an animal kept in a zoo and the like. Depending on the kind of animals kept in a zoo and the like, it may be difficult to identify the animals; thus, a small size information terminal is helpful to identify the animals while being mounted on a wrist or an ankle of the animals. In that case, the wrist or the ankle of the animal may be larger than a human finger.

Embodiment 2

In this embodiment, specific examples of a display panel included in the electronic device of one embodiment of the present invention are described.

Specific Example 1

FIG. 17A is a plan view of the display panel, and FIG. 17C is an example of a cross-sectional view taken along the dashed-dotted line A1-A2 in FIG. 17A. The display panel in Specific Example 1 is a top-emission display panel using a color filter method. In this embodiment, the display panel can have, for example, a structure in which sub-pixels of three colors of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) express one color, or a structure in which sub-pixels of four colors of red (R), green (G), blue (B), and white (W) or sub-pixels of four colors of red (R), green (G), blue (B), and yellow (Y) express one color. The color element is not particularly limited and colors other than R, G, B, and W may be used. For example, yellow, cyan, magenta, and the like may be used.

The display panel illustrated in FIG. 17A includes a light-emitting portion 804, driver circuit portions 806, and a flexible printed circuit (FPC) 808. Light-emitting elements and transistors included in the light-emitting portion 804 and the driver circuit portions 806 are sealed by a substrate 801, a substrate 803, and a sealing layer 823.

The display panel illustrated in FIG. 17C includes the substrate 801, an adhesive layer 811, an insulating layer 813, a plurality of transistors, a conductive layer 857, an insulating layer 815, an insulating layer 817, a plurality of light-emitting elements, an insulating layer 821, the sealing layer 823, an overcoat 849, a coloring layer 845, a light-blocking layer 847, an insulating layer 843, an adhesive layer 841, and the substrate 803. The sealing layer 823, the overcoat 849, the insulating layer 843, the adhesive layer 841, and the substrate 803 transmit visible light.

The light-emitting portion 804 includes a transistor 820 and a light-emitting element 830 over the substrate 801 with the adhesive layer 811 and the insulating layer 813 provided between the substrate 801 and each of the transistor 820 and the light-emitting element 830. The light-emitting element 830 includes a lower electrode 831 over the insulating layer 817, an EL layer 833 over the lower electrode 831, and an upper electrode 835 over the EL layer 833. The lower electrode 831 is electrically connected to a source electrode or a drain electrode of the transistor 820. An end portion of the lower electrode 831 is covered with the insulating layer 821. The lower electrode 831 preferably reflects visible light. The upper electrode 835 transmits visible light.

The light-emitting portion 804 also includes the coloring layer 845 overlapping with the light-emitting element 830 and the light-blocking layer 847 overlapping with the insulating layer 821. The coloring layer 845 and the light-blocking layer 847 are covered with the overcoat 849. The space between the light-emitting element 830 and the overcoat 849 is filled with the sealing layer 823.

The insulating layer 815 has an effect of suppressing diffusion of impurities into a semiconductor included in the transistor. As the insulating layer 817, an insulating layer having a planarization function is preferably selected in order to reduce surface unevenness due to the transistor.

The driver circuit portions 806 each include a plurality of transistors over the substrate 801 with the adhesive layer 811 and the insulating layer 813 provided between the substrate 801 and the transistors. FIG. 17C illustrates one of the transistors included in the driver circuit portion 806.

The insulating layer 813 and the substrate 801 are attached to each other with the adhesive layer 811. The insulating layer 843 and the substrate 803 are attached to each other with the adhesive layer 841. It is preferable to use films with low water permeability for the insulating layer 813 and the insulating layer 843, in which case an impurity such as water can be prevented from entering the light-emitting element 830 or the transistor 820, leading to improved reliability of the display panel.

The conductive layer 857 is electrically connected to an external input terminal through which a signal (e.g., a video signal, a clock signal, a start signal, and a reset signal) or a potential from the outside is transmitted to the driver circuit portion 806. Here, an example is described in which an FPC 808 is provided as the external input terminal. To prevent an increase in the number of fabrication steps, the conductive layer 857 is preferably formed using the same material and step as the electrode or the wiring in the light-emitting portion or the driver circuit portion. Here, an example in which the conductive layer 857 is formed using the same material and step as the electrodes included in the transistor 820 is described.

In the display panel illustrated in FIG. 17C, a connector 825 is positioned over the substrate 803. The connector 825 is connected to the conductive layer 857 through an opening provided in the substrate 803, the adhesive layer 841, the insulating layer 843, the sealing layer 823, the insulating layer 817, and the insulating layer 815. The connector 825 is also connected to the FPC 808. The FPC 808 and the conductive layer 857 are electrically connected to each other via the connector 825. In the case where the conductive layer 857 overlaps with the substrate 803, the conductive layer 857, the connector 825, and the FPC 808 can be electrically connected to one another by forming an opening in the substrate 803 (or using a substrate having an opening portion).

The display panel in Specific Example 1 can be manufactured in the following manner: the insulating layer 813, the transistor 820, and the light-emitting element 830 are formed over a formation substrate with high heat resistance; the formation substrate is separated; and the insulating layer 813, the transistor 820, and the light-emitting element 830 are transferred to the substrate 801 and attached thereto with the adhesive layer 811. The display panel in Specific Example 1 can be manufactured in the following manner: the insulating layer 843, the coloring layer 845, and the light-blocking layer 847 are formed over a formation substrate with high heat resistance; the formation substrate is separated; and the insulating layer 843, the coloring layer 845, and the light-blocking layer 847 are transferred to the substrate 803 and attached thereto with the adhesive layer 841.

In the case where a material with low heat resistance (e.g., resin) is used for a substrate, it is difficult to expose the substrate to high temperatures in the manufacturing process. Thus, there is a limitation on conditions for forming a transistor and an insulating layer over the substrate. In the case of using a material with high water permeability (e.g., a resin), it is preferable to form a film at high temperatures to have low water permeability. In the manufacturing method of this embodiment, a transistor and the like can be formed over a formation substrate with high heat resistance; thus, a highly reliable transistor and a film with sufficiently low water permeability can be formed at high temperatures. Then, the transistor and the insulating film are transferred to the substrate 801 and the substrate 803, whereby a highly reliable display panel can be manufactured. Thus, with one embodiment of the present invention, a thin or/and lightweight display panel with high reliability can be provided. Details of the manufacturing method will be described later.

Specific Example 2

FIG. 17B is a plan view of the display panel, and FIG. 17D is an example of a cross-sectional view taken along the dashed-dotted line A3-A4 in FIG. 17B. The display panel in Specific Example 2 is a top-emission display panel using a color filter method, which differs from the display panel in Specific Example 1. Portions different from those in Specific Example 1 will be described in detail here and the descriptions of portions common to those in Specific Example 1 will be omitted.

The display panel illustrated in FIG. 17D differs from the display panel in FIG. 17C in the following points.

The display panel in FIG. 17D includes a spacer 827 over the insulating layer 821. The spacer 827 can adjust the distance between the substrate 801 and the substrate 803.

In the display panel illustrated in FIG. 17D, the substrate 801 and the substrate 803 have different sizes. The connector 825 is positioned over the insulating layer 843 and thus does not overlap with the substrate 803. The connector 825 is connected to the conductive layer 857 through an opening provided in the insulating layer 843, the sealing layer 823, the insulating layer 817, and the insulating layer 815. Since no opening needs to be provided in the substrate 803, there is no limitation on the material of the substrate 803.

Specific Example 3

FIG. 18A is a plan view of a display panel, and FIG. 18C is an example of a cross-sectional view taken along the dashed-dotted line A5-A6 in FIG. 18A. The display panel in Specific Example 3 is a top-emission display device using a separate coloring method.

The display panel illustrated in FIG. 18A includes the light-emitting portion 804, the driver circuit portion 806, and the FPC 808. Light-emitting elements and transistors included in the light-emitting portion 804 and the driver circuit portion 806 are sealed by the substrate 801, the substrate 803, a frame-shaped sealing layer 824, and the sealing layer 823.

The display panel illustrated in FIG. 18C includes the substrate 801, the adhesive layer 811, the insulating layer 813, a plurality of transistors, the conductive layer 857, the insulating layer 815, the insulating layer 817, a plurality of light-emitting elements, the insulating layer 821, the sealing layer 823, the frame-shaped sealing layer 824, and the substrate 803. The sealing layer 823 and the substrate 803 transmit visible light.

The frame-shaped sealing layer 824 preferably has a higher gas barrier property than the sealing layer 823. Accordingly, external moisture or oxygen can be prevented from entering the display panel. Thus, a highly reliable display panel can be obtained.

In Specific Example 3, light emitted from the light-emitting element 830 in the display panel is extracted through the sealing layer 823. Therefore, the sealing layer 823 preferably has a higher light-transmitting property than the frame-shaped sealing layer 824. The sealing layer 823 preferably has a higher refractive index than the frame-shaped sealing layer 824. In addition, it is preferable that a reduction in the volume of the sealing layer 823 by curing be smaller than that of the frame-shaped sealing layer 824.

The light-emitting portion 804 includes a transistor 820 and a light-emitting element 830 over the substrate 801 with the adhesive layer 811 and the insulating layer 813 provided between the substrate 801 and each of the transistor 820 and the light-emitting element 830. The light-emitting element 830 includes the lower electrode 831 over the insulating layer 817, the EL layer 833 over the lower electrode 831, and the upper electrode 835 over the EL layer 833. The lower electrode 831 is electrically connected to the source electrode or the drain electrode of the transistor 820. The end portion of the lower electrode 831 is covered with the insulating layer 821. The lower electrode 831 preferably reflects visible light. The upper electrode 835 transmits visible light.

The driver circuit portion 806 each include a plurality of transistors over the substrate 801 with the adhesive layer 811 and the insulating layer 813 provided between the substrate 801 and the transistors. In FIG. 18C, one of the transistors included in the driver circuit portion 806 is illustrated.

The insulating layer 813 and the substrate 801 are attached to each other with the adhesive layer 811. It is preferable to use a film with low water permeability for the insulating layer 813, in which case an impurity such as water can be prevented from entering the light-emitting element 830 or the transistor 820, leading to improved reliability of the display panel.

The conductive layer 857 is electrically connected to an external input terminal through which a signal or a potential from the outside is transmitted to the driver circuit portion 806. Here, an example is described in which an FPC 808 is provided as the external input terminal. Moreover, here, an example in which the conductive layer 857 is formed using the same material and step as the electrodes included in the transistor 820 is described.

In the display panel illustrated in FIG. 18C, the connector 825 is positioned over the substrate 803. The connector 825 is connected to the conductive layer 857 through an opening provided in the substrate 803, the sealing layer 823, the insulating layer 817, and the insulating layer 815. The connector 825 is also connected to the FPC 808. The FPC 808 and the conductive layer 857 are electrically connected to each other via the connector 825.

The display panel in Specific Example 3 can be manufactured in the following manner: the insulating layer 813, the transistor 820, and the light-emitting element 830 are formed over a formation substrate with high heat resistance; the formation substrate is separated; and the insulating layer 813, the transistor 820, and the light-emitting element 830 are transferred to the substrate 801 and attached thereto with the adhesive layer 811. In the manufacturing method of this embodiment, a transistor and the like can be formed over a formation substrate with high heat resistance; thus, a highly reliable transistor and a film with sufficiently low water permeability can be formed at high temperatures. Then, the transistor and the insulating film are transferred to the substrate 801, whereby a highly reliable display panel can be manufactured. Thus, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a thin or/and lightweight display panel with high reliability can be provided.

Specific Example 4

FIG. 18B is a plan view of a display panel, and FIG. 18D is an example of a cross-sectional view taken along dashed-dotted line A7-A8 in FIG. 18B. The display panel in Specific Example 4 is a bottom-emission display panel using a color filter method.

The display panel illustrated in FIG. 18D includes the substrate 801, the adhesive layer 811, the insulating layer 813, a plurality of transistors, the conductive layer 857, the insulating layer 815, the coloring layer 845, an insulating layer 817 a, an insulating layer 817 b, a conductive layer 816, a plurality of light-emitting elements, the insulating layer 821, the sealing layer 823, and the substrate 803. The substrate 801, the adhesive layer 811, the insulating layer 813, the insulating layer 815, the insulating layer 817 a, and the insulating layer 817 b transmit visible light.

The light-emitting portion 804 includes the transistor 820, the transistor 822, and the light-emitting element 830 over the substrate 801 with the adhesive layer 811 and the insulating layer 813 provided between the substrate 801 and the transistor 820, the transistor 822, and the light-emitting element 830. The light-emitting element 830 includes the lower electrode 831 over the insulating layer 817 b, the EL layer 833 over the lower electrode 831, and the upper electrode 835 over the EL layer 833. The lower electrode 831 is electrically connected to the source electrode or the drain electrode of the transistor 820. The end portion of the lower electrode 831 is covered with the insulating layer 821. The upper electrode 835 preferably reflects visible light. The lower electrode 831 transmits visible light. The coloring layer 845 that overlaps with the light-emitting element 830 can be provided anywhere; for example, the coloring layer 845 may be provided between the insulating layers 817 a and 817 b or between the insulating layers 815 and 817 a.

The driver circuit portion 806 include a plurality of transistors over the substrate 801 with the adhesive layer 811 and the insulating layer 813 provided between the substrate 801 and the transistors. In FIG. 18D, two of the transistors included in the driver circuit portion 806 is illustrated.

The insulating layer 813 and the substrate 801 are attached to each other with the adhesive layer 811. It is preferable to use a film with low water permeability for the insulating layer 813, in which case an impurity such as water can be prevented from entering the light-emitting element 830, the transistor 820, or the transistor 822, leading to improved reliability of the display panel.

The conductive layer 857 is electrically connected to an external input terminal through which a signal or a potential from the outside is transmitted to the driver circuit portion 806. Here, an example is described in which the FPC 808 is provided as the external input terminal. Moreover, here, an example in which the conductive layer 857 is formed using the same material and step as the conductive layer 816 is described.

The display panel in Specific Example 4 can be manufactured in the following manner: the insulating layer 813, the transistor 820, the light-emitting element 830, and the like are formed over a formation substrate with high heat resistance; the formation substrate is separated; and the insulating layer 813, the transistor 820, the light-emitting element 830, and the like are transferred to the substrate 801 and attached thereto with the adhesive layer 811. In the manufacturing method of this embodiment, a transistor and the like can be formed over a formation substrate with high heat resistance; thus, a highly reliable transistor and a film with sufficiently low water permeability can be formed at high temperatures. Then, the transistor and the insulating film are transferred to the substrate 801, whereby a highly reliable display panel can be manufactured. Thus, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a thin or/and lightweight display panel with high reliability can be provided.

Specific Example 5

FIG. 18E illustrates an example of a display panel that is different from those described in Specific Examples 1 to 4.

The display panel illustrated in FIG. 18E includes the substrate 801, the adhesive layer 811, the insulating layer 813, a conductive layer 814, a conductive layer 857 a, a conductive layer 857 b, the light-emitting element 830, the insulating layer 821, the sealing layer 823, and the substrate 803.

The conductive layer 857 a and the conductive layer 857 b, which serve as external connection electrodes of the display panel, can each be electrically connected to an FPC or the like.

The light-emitting element 830 includes the lower electrode 831, the EL layer 833, and the upper electrode 835. The end portion of the lower electrode 831 is covered with the insulating layer 821. The light-emitting element 830 is a bottom-emission, top-emission, or dual-emission light-emitting element. An electrode, a substrate, an insulating layer, and the like on the light extraction side transmit visible light. The conductive layer 814 is electrically connected to the lower electrode 831.

The substrate through which light is extracted may have, as a light extraction structure, a hemispherical lens, a micro lens array, a film provided with an uneven surface structure, a light diffusing film, or the like. For example, the substrate with a light extraction structure can be formed by attaching the above lens or film to a resin substrate with an adhesive or the like having substantially the same refractive index as the substrate or the lens or film.

The conductive layer 814 is preferably, though not necessarily, provided because voltage drop due to the resistance of the lower electrode 831 can be prevented. In addition, for a similar purpose, a conductive layer electrically connected to the upper electrode 835 may be provided over the insulating layer 821, the EL layer 833, the upper electrode 835, or the like.

The conductive layer 814 can be a single layer or a stacked layer formed using a material selected from copper, titanium, tantalum, tungsten, molybdenum, chromium, neodymium, scandium, nickel, or aluminum; an alloy material containing any of these materials as its main component; or the like. The thickness of the conductive layer 814 can be, for example, greater than or equal to 0.1 μm and less than or equal to 3 μm, preferably greater than or equal to 0.1 μm and less than or equal to 0.5 μm.

When a paste (e.g., silver paste) is used as a material for the conductive layer electrically connected to the upper electrode 835, metal particles forming the conductive layer aggregate; therefore, the surface of the conductive layer is rough and has many gaps. Thus, it is difficult for the EL layer 833 to completely cover the conductive layer; accordingly, the upper electrode and the conductive layer are preferably electrically connected to each other easily.

The display panel in Specific Example 5 can be manufactured in the following manner: the insulating layer 813, the light-emitting element 830, and the like are formed over a formation substrate with high heat resistance; the formation substrate is separated; and the insulating layer 813, the light-emitting element 830, and the like are transferred to the substrate 801 and attached thereto with the adhesive layer 811. A film with sufficiently low water permeability is formed at high temperature over the formation substrate having high heat resistance and transferred to the substrate 801, whereby a highly reliable display panel can be manufactured. Thus, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a thin or/and lightweight display panel with high reliability can be provided.

Note that although the case where the light-emitting element is used as a display element is described here, one embodiment of the present invention is not limited thereto.

For example, in this specification and the like, a display element, a display device which is a device including a display element, a light-emitting element, and a light-emitting device which is a device including a light-emitting element can employ a variety of modes or can include a variety of elements. A display element, a display device, a light-emitting element, or a light-emitting device includes, for example, at least one of an electroluminescence (EL) element (e.g., an EL element including organic and inorganic materials, an organic EL element, or an inorganic EL element), an LED (e.g., a white LED, a red LED, a green LED, or a blue LED), a transistor (a transistor that emits light depending on current), an electron emitter, a liquid crystal element, electronic ink, an electrophoretic element, a grating light valve (GLV), a plasma display panel (PDP), a display element using micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS), a digital micromirror device (DMD), a digital micro shutter (DMS), MIRASOL (registered trademark), an interferometric modulator display (IMOD) element, a MEMS shutter display element, an optical-interference-type MEMS display element, an electrowetting element, a piezoelectric ceramic display, and a display element including a carbon nanotube. Other than the above, display media whose contrast, luminance, reflectivity, transmittance, or the like is changed by electrical or magnetic effect may be included. Note that examples of display devices having EL elements include an EL display. Examples of display devices including electron emitters are a field emission display (FED) and an SED-type flat panel display (SED: surface-conduction electron-emitter display). Examples of display devices including liquid crystal elements include a liquid crystal display (e.g., a transmissive liquid crystal display, a transflective liquid crystal display, a reflective liquid crystal display, a direct-view liquid crystal display, or a projection liquid crystal display). Examples of a display device including electronic ink, electronic liquid powder (registered trademark), or electrophoretic elements include electronic paper. In the case of a transflective liquid crystal display or a reflective liquid crystal display, some of or all of pixel electrodes function as reflective electrodes. For example, some or all of pixel electrodes are formed to contain aluminum, silver, or the like. In such a case, a memory circuit such as an SRAM can be provided under the reflective electrodes, leading to lower power consumption. Note that in the case of using an LED, graphene or graphite may be provided under an electrode or a nitride semiconductor of the LED. Graphene or graphite may be a multilayer film in which a plurality of layers are stacked. As described above, provision of graphene or graphite enables easy formation of a nitride semiconductor film thereover, such as an n-type GaN semiconductor layer including crystals. Furthermore, a p-type GaN semiconductor layer including crystals or the like can be provided thereover, and thus the LED can be formed. Note that an AlN layer may be provided between the n-type GaN semiconductor layer including crystals and graphene or graphite. The GaN semiconductor layers included in the LED may be formed by MOCVD. Note that when the graphene is provided, the GaN semiconductor layers included in the LED can also be formed by a sputtering method.

[Examples of Materials]

Next, materials and the like that can be used for a light-emitting panel are described. Note that description on the components already described in this specification is omitted in some cases.

For each of the substrates, a material such as glass, quartz, an organic resin, a metal, or an alloy can be used. The substrate on the side from which light from the light-emitting element is extracted is formed using a material which transmits the light.

It is particularly preferable to use a flexible substrate. For example, an organic resin; a glass material, a metal, or an alloy that is thin enough to have flexibility; or the like can be used.

An organic resin, which has a specific gravity smaller than that of glass, is preferably used for the flexible substrate, in which case the light-emitting panel can be more lightweight compared with the case where glass is used.

The substrates are preferred to be formed using a material with high toughness. In that case, a light-emitting panel with high impact resistance that is robust can be provided. For example, when an organic resin substrate, a thin metal substrate, or a thin alloy substrate is used, the light-emitting panel can be lighter and more robust than the case where a glass substrate is used.

A metal material and an alloy material, which have high thermal conductivity, are preferred because they can easily conduct heat to the whole substrate and accordingly can prevent a local temperature rise in the light-emitting panel. The thickness of a substrate using a metal material or an alloy material is preferably greater than or equal to 10 μm and less than or equal to 200 μm, further preferably greater than or equal to 20 μm and less than or equal to 50 μm.

Examples of a material for the metal substrate or the alloy substrate include, but not limited to, a metal such as aluminum, copper, iron, titanium, or nickel; and an alloy containing one or more metals selected from the metals. As the alloy, for example, an aluminum alloy or stainless steel can be favorably used.

Furthermore, when a material with high thermal emissivity is used for the substrate, the surface temperature of the light-emitting panel can be prevented from rising, leading to prevention of breakage or a decrease in reliability of the light-emitting panel. For example, the substrate may have a stacked-layer structure of a metal substrate and a layer with high thermal emissivity (e.g., the layer can be formed using a metal oxide or a ceramic material).

Examples of such a material having flexibility and a light-transmitting property include polyester resins such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), a polyacrylonitrile resin, a polyimide resin, a polymethyl methacrylate resin, a polycarbonate (PC) resin, a polyethersulfone (PES) resin, a polyamide resin, a cycloolefin resin, a polystyrene resin, a polyamide imide resin, a polyvinyl chloride resin, and a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) resin. In particular, a material whose coefficient of thermal expansion is low is preferred, and for example, a polyamide imide resin, a polyimide resin, or PET can be suitably used. A substrate in which a fibrous body is impregnated with a resin (also referred to as prepreg) or a substrate whose coefficient of thermal expansion is reduced by mixing an organic resin with an inorganic filler can also be used.

The flexible substrate may have a stacked-layer structure in which a hard coat layer (such as a silicon nitride layer) by which a surface of a light-emitting device is protected from damage, a layer (such as an aramid resin layer) which can disperse pressure, or the like is stacked over a layer of any of the above-mentioned materials.

The flexible substrate may be formed by stacking a plurality of layers. When a glass layer is used, a barrier property against water and oxygen can be improved and thus a reliable light-emitting panel can be provided.

For example, a flexible substrate in which a glass layer, an adhesive layer, and an organic resin layer are stacked from the side closer to a light-emitting element can be used. The thickness of the glass layer is greater than or equal to 20 μm and less than or equal to 200 μm, preferably greater than or equal to 25 μm and less than or equal to 100 μm. With such a thickness, the glass layer can have both an excellent barrier property against water and oxygen and a high flexibility. The thickness of the organic resin layer is greater than or equal to 10 μm and less than or equal to 200 μm, preferably greater than or equal to 20 μm and less than or equal to 50 μm. Providing such organic resin layer outside the glass layer, occurrence of a crack or a break in the glass layer can be suppressed and mechanical strength can be improved. With the substrate that includes such a composite material of a glass material and an organic resin, a highly reliable and flexible light-emitting panel can be provided.

As the adhesive layer or the sealing layer, a variety of curable adhesives such as a reactive curable adhesive, a thermosetting adhesive, an anaerobic adhesive, and a photo curable adhesive such as an ultraviolet curable adhesive can be used. Examples of these adhesives include an epoxy resin, an acrylic resin, a silicone resin, a phenol resin, a polyimide resin, an imide resin, a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin, a polyvinyl butyral (PVB) resin, and an ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) resin. A material with low moisture permeability, such as an epoxy resin, is particularly preferable. Alternatively, a two-component-mixture-type resin may be used. Alternatively, an adhesive sheet or the like may be used.

The resin may include a drying agent. As the drying agent, for example, a substance that adsorbs moisture by chemical adsorption, such as an oxide of an alkaline earth metal (e.g., calcium oxide or barium oxide), can be used. Alternatively, a substance that adsorbs moisture by physical adsorption, such as zeolite or silica gel, may be used. The drying agent is preferably included because it can prevent an impurity such as moisture from entering the functional element, thereby improving the reliability of the light-emitting panel.

In addition, it is preferable to mix a filler with a high refractive index or light-scattering member into the resin, in which case the efficiency of light extraction from the light-emitting element can be improved. For example, titanium oxide, barium oxide, zeolite, zirconium, or the like can be used.

There is no particular limitation on the structure of the transistors in the light-emitting panel. For example, a forward staggered transistor or an inverted staggered transistor may be used. A top-gate transistor or a bottom-gate transistor may be used. There is no particular limitation on a semiconductor material used for the transistors; for example, silicon, germanium, silicon carbide, or gallium nitride can be used. Alternatively, an oxide semiconductor containing at least one of indium, gallium, and zinc, such as an In—Ga—Zn-based metal oxide, may be used.

There is no particular limitation on the crystallinity of a semiconductor material used for the transistors, and an amorphous semiconductor or a semiconductor having crystallinity (a microcrystalline semiconductor, a polycrystalline semiconductor, a single-crystal semiconductor, or a semiconductor partly including crystal regions) may be used. It is preferable that a semiconductor having crystallinity be used, in which case deterioration of the transistor characteristics can be suppressed.

Here, an oxide semiconductor is preferably used for semiconductor devices such as transistors used for pixels, driver circuits, touch sensors described later, and the like. In particular, an oxide semiconductor having a wider band gap than silicon is preferably used. A semiconductor material having a wider band gap and a lower carrier density than silicon is preferably used because off-state current of the transistor can be reduced.

For example, the oxide semiconductor preferably contains at least indium (In) or zinc (Zn). More preferably, the oxide semiconductor contains an oxide represented by an In-M-Zn-based oxide (M is a metal such as Al, Ti, Ga, Ge, Y, Zr, Sn, La, Ce, or Hf).

As the semiconductor layer, it is particularly preferable to use an oxide semiconductor film including a plurality of crystal parts whose c-axes are aligned perpendicular to a surface on which the semiconductor layer is formed or the top surface of the semiconductor layer and in which the adjacent crystal parts have no grain boundary.

There is no grain boundary in such an oxide semiconductor; therefore, generation of a crack in an oxide semiconductor film which is caused by stress when a display panel is bent is prevented. Therefore, such an oxide semiconductor can be preferably used for a flexible display panel which is used in a bent state, or the like.

The use of such materials for the semiconductor layer makes it possible to provide a highly reliable transistor in which a change in the electrical characteristics is suppressed.

Charge accumulated in a capacitor through a transistor can be held for a long time because of the low off-state current of the transistor. When such a transistor is used for a pixel, operation of a driver circuit can be stopped while a gray scale of an image displayed in each display region is maintained. As a result, an electronic device with an extremely low power consumption can be obtained.

For stable characteristics of the transistor, a base film is preferably provided. The base film can be formed with an inorganic insulating film such as a silicon oxide film, a silicon nitride film, a silicon oxynitride film, or a silicon nitride oxide film to have a single-layer structure or a stacked-layer structure. The base film can be formed by a sputtering method, a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method (e.g., a plasma CVD method, a thermal CVD method, or a metal organic CVD (MOCVD) method), an atomic layer deposition (ALD) method, a coating method, a printing method, or the like. Note that the base film is not necessarily provided. In each of the above Structure Examples, the insulating layer 813 can serve as a base film of the transistor.

As the light-emitting element, a self-luminous element can be used, and an element whose luminance is controlled by current or voltage is included in the category of the light-emitting element. For example, a light-emitting diode (LED), an organic EL element, an inorganic EL element, or the like can be used.

The light-emitting element may be a top emission, bottom emission, or dual emission light-emitting element. A conductive film that transmits visible light is used as the electrode through which light is extracted. A conductive film that reflects visible light is preferably used as the electrode through which light is not extracted.

The conductive film that transmits visible light can be formed using, for example, indium oxide, indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide, zinc oxide, or zinc oxide to which gallium is added. Alternatively, a film of a metal material such as gold, silver, platinum, magnesium, nickel, tungsten, chromium, molybdenum, iron, cobalt, copper, palladium, or titanium; an alloy containing any of these metal materials; or a nitride of any of these metal materials (e.g., titanium nitride) can be formed thin so as to have a light-transmitting property. Alternatively, a stack of any of the above materials can be used as the conductive layer. For example, a stacked film of ITO and an alloy of silver and magnesium is preferably used, in which case conductivity can be increased. Further alternatively, graphene or the like may be used.

For the conductive film that reflects visible light, for example, a metal material such as aluminum, gold, platinum, silver, nickel, tungsten, chromium, molybdenum, iron, cobalt, copper, or palladium or an alloy containing any of these metal materials can be used. Lanthanum, neodymium, germanium, or the like may be added to the metal material or the alloy. Furthermore, an alloy containing aluminum (an aluminum alloy) such as an alloy of aluminum and titanium, an alloy of aluminum and nickel, or an alloy of aluminum and neodymium; or an alloy containing silver such as an alloy of silver and copper, an alloy of silver, copper, and palladium, or an alloy of silver and magnesium can be used for the conductive film. An alloy of silver and copper is preferable because of its high heat resistance. Moreover, a metal film or a metal oxide film is stacked on an aluminum alloy film, whereby oxidation of the aluminum alloy film can be suppressed. Examples of a material for the metal film or the metal oxide film are titanium and titanium oxide. Alternatively, the conductive film having a property of transmitting visible light and a film containing any of the above metal materials may be stacked. For example, a stacked film of silver and ITO or a stacked film of an alloy of silver and magnesium and ITO can be used.

The electrodes may be formed separately by an evaporation method or a sputtering method. Alternatively, a discharging method such as an ink-jet method, a printing method such as a screen printing method, or a plating method may be used.

When a voltage higher than the threshold voltage of the light-emitting element is applied between the lower electrode 831 and the upper electrode 835, holes are injected to the EL layer 833 from the anode side and electrons are injected to the EL layer 833 from the cathode side. The injected electrons and holes are recombined in the EL layer 833 and a light-emitting substance contained in the EL layer 833 emits light.

The EL layer 833 includes at least a light-emitting layer. In addition to the light-emitting layer, the EL layer 833 may further include one or more layers containing any of a substance with a high hole-injection property, a substance with a high hole-transport property, a hole-blocking material, a substance with a high electron-transport property, a substance with a high electron-injection property, a substance with a bipolar property (a substance with a high electron- and hole-transport property), and the like.

For the EL layer 833, either a low molecular compound or a high molecular compound can be used, and an inorganic compound may also be used. Each of the layers included in the EL layer 833 can be formed by any of the following methods: an evaporation method (including a vacuum evaporation method), a transfer method, a printing method, an ink-jet method, a coating method, and the like.

In the case where a light-emitting element emitting white light is used as the light-emitting element 830, the EL layer 833 preferably contains two or more kinds of light-emitting substances. For example, light-emitting substances are selected so that two or more light-emitting substances emit complementary colors to obtain white light emission. Specifically, it is preferable to contain two or more selected from light-emitting substances emitting light of red (R), green (G), blue (B), yellow (Y), orange (O), and the like and light-emitting substances emitting light containing two or more of spectral components of R, G, and B. The light-emitting element 830 preferably emits light with a spectrum having two or more peaks in the wavelength range of a visible light region (e.g., 350 nm to 750 nm). An emission spectrum of a material emitting light having a peak in the wavelength range of a yellow light preferably includes spectral components also in the wavelength range of a green light and a red light.

More preferably, a light-emitting layer containing a light-emitting material emitting light of one color and a light-emitting layer containing a light-emitting material emitting light of another color are stacked in the EL layer 833. For example, the plurality of light-emitting layers in the EL layer 833 may be stacked in contact with each other or may be stacked with a separation layer therebetween. For example, a separation layer may be provided between a fluorescent layer and a phosphorescent layer.

The separation layer can be provided, for example, to prevent energy transfer by the Dexter mechanism (particularly triplet energy transfer) from a phosphorescent material or the like in an excited state which is generated in the phosphorescent layer to a fluorescent material or the like in the fluorescent layer. The thickness of the separation layer may be several nanometers. Specifically, the thickness of the separation layer may be greater than or equal to 0.1 nm and less than or equal to 20 nm, greater than or equal to 1 nm and less than or equal to 10 nm, or greater than or equal to 1 nm and less than or equal to 5 nm. The separation layer contains a single material (preferably, a bipolar substance) or a plurality of materials (preferably, a hole-transport material and an electron-transport material).

The separation layer may be formed using a material contained in a light-emitting layer in contact with the separation layer. This facilitates the manufacture of the light-emitting element and reduces the drive voltage. For example, in the case where the phosphorescent layer contains a host material, an assist material, and the phosphorescent material (a guest material), the separation layer may contain the host material and the assist material. In other words, the separation layer includes a region not containing the phosphorescent material and the phosphorescent layer includes a region containing the phosphorescent material in the above structure. Accordingly, the separation layer and the phosphorescent layer can be evaporated separately depending on whether a phosphorescent material is used or not. With such a structure, the separation layer and the phosphorescent layer can be formed in the same chamber. Thus, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

The light-emitting element 830 may be a single element including one EL layer or a tandem element in which a plurality of EL layers are stacked with a charge generation layer therebetween.

The light-emitting element is preferably provided between a pair of insulating films with low water permeability. Thus, an impurity such as water can be prevented from entering the light-emitting element, leading to prevention of a decrease in the reliability of the light-emitting device.

As an insulating film with low water permeability, a film containing nitrogen and silicon such as a silicon nitride film or a silicon nitride oxide film, a film containing nitrogen and aluminum such as an aluminum nitride film, or the like can be used. Alternatively, a silicon oxide film, a silicon oxynitride film, an aluminum oxide film, or the like can be used.

For example, the water vapor transmittance of the insulating film with low water permeability is lower than or equal to 1×10⁻⁵ [g/(m²·day)], preferably lower than or equal to 1×10⁻⁶ [g/(m²·day)], further preferably lower than or equal to 1×10⁻⁷ [g/(m²·day)], still further preferably lower than or equal to 1×10⁻⁸ [g/(m²·day)].

The insulating layers 813 and 843 are each preferably formed using an insulating film with low water permeability.

As the insulating layer 815, for example, an inorganic insulating film such as a silicon oxide film, a silicon oxynitride film, or an aluminum oxide film can be used. For example, as each of the insulating layers 817, 817 a, and 817 b, an organic material such as polyimide, acrylic, polyamide, polyimide amide, or a benzocyclobutene-based resin can be used. Alternatively, a low-dielectric constant material (a low-k material) or the like can be used. Furthermore, each of the insulating layers may be formed by stacking a plurality of insulating films.

The insulating layer 821 is formed using an organic insulating material or an inorganic insulating material. As the resin, for example, a polyimide resin, a polyamide resin, an acrylic resin, a siloxane resin, an epoxy resin, or a phenol resin can be used. It is particularly preferable that the insulating layer 821 be formed using a photosensitive resin material so that a sidewall of an opening has an inclined surface with continuous curvature.

There is no particular limitation on the method for forming the insulating layer 821; a photolithography method, a sputtering method, an evaporation method, a droplet discharging method (e.g., an ink-jet method), a printing method (e.g., a screen printing method or an off-set printing method), or the like may be used.

The spacer 827 can be formed using an inorganic insulating material, an organic insulating material, a metal material, or the like. As the inorganic insulating material and the organic insulating material, for example, a variety of materials that can be used for the insulating layer can be used. As the metal material, titanium, aluminum, or the like can be used. When the spacer 827 containing a conductive material and the upper electrode 835 are electrically connected to each other, a potential drop due to the resistance of the upper electrode 835 can be suppressed. The spacer 827 may have either a tapered shape or an inverse tapered shape.

A conductive layer included in the light-emitting panel, which functions as an electrode or a wiring of the transistor, an auxiliary electrode of the light-emitting element, or the like, can be formed to have a single-layer structure or a stacked-layer structure using any of metal materials such as molybdenum, titanium, chromium, tantalum, tungsten, aluminum, copper, neodymium, and scandium, and an alloy material containing any of these elements, for example. Alternatively, the conductive layer may be formed using a conductive metal oxide. As the conductive metal oxide, indium oxide (e.g., In₂O₃), tin oxide (e.g., SnO₂), zinc oxide (ZnO), ITO, indium zinc oxide (e.g., In₂O₃—ZnO), or any of these metal oxide materials in which silicon oxide is contained can be used.

The coloring layer is a colored layer that transmits light in a specific wavelength range. For example, a red (R) color filter for transmitting light in a red wavelength range, a green (G) color filter for transmitting light in a green wavelength range, a blue (B) color filter for transmitting light in a blue wavelength range, or the like can be used. Each coloring layer is formed in a desired position with any of various materials by a printing method, an ink-jet method, an etching method using a photolithography method, or the like.

The light-blocking layer is provided between the adjacent coloring layers. The light-blocking layer blocks light emitted from an adjacent light-emitting element to prevent color mixture between adjacent light-emitting elements. Here, the coloring layer is provided such that its end portion overlaps with the light-blocking layer, whereby light leakage can be suppressed. As the light-blocking layer, a material that can block light from the light-emitting element can be used; for example, a black matrix may be formed using a resin material containing a metal material, pigment, or dye. Note that it is preferable to provide the light-blocking layer in a region other than the light-emitting portion, such as a driver circuit portion, in which case undesired leakage of guided light or the like can be suppressed.

Furthermore, an overcoat covering the coloring layer and the light-blocking layer may be provided. With the overcoat, impurities and the like contained in the coloring layer can be prevented from being diffused into the light-emitting element. The overcoat is formed with a material that transmits light emitted from the light-emitting element; for example, an inorganic insulating film such as a silicon nitride film or a silicon oxide film, an organic insulating film such as an acrylic film or a polyimide film can be used, and a stacked-layer structure of an organic insulating film and an inorganic insulating film may be used.

In the case where upper surfaces of the coloring layer and the light-blocking layer are coated with a material of the sealing layer, a material that has high wettability with respect to the material of the sealing layer is preferably used as the material of the overcoat. For example, an oxide conductive film such as an ITO film or a metal film such as an Ag film that is thin enough to transmit light is preferably used as the overcoat.

For the connector, it is possible to use a paste-like or sheet-like material which is obtained by mixing metal particles into a thermosetting resin and for which anisotropic electric conductivity is provided by thermocompression adhesive. As the metal particles, particles in which two or more kinds of metals are layered, for example, nickel particles coated with gold are preferably used. Alternatively, a particulate resin whose surface is coated with a metal is preferably used.

This embodiment can be freely combined with any of the other embodiments.

Embodiment 3

In this embodiment, an example of a method for charging a power storage device by wireless power feeding will be described. For wireless power feeding, an electric field, a magnetic field, an electromagnetic wave, or the like can be used.

An electronic device of one embodiment of the present invention preferably includes an antenna, a coil, or the like for receiving an electric field, a magnetic field, an electromagnetic wave, or the like. The electronic device of one embodiment of the present invention preferably includes a capacitor for charging.

When a coupling coil and a coupling capacitor are used, the power storage device can be charged without contact. An antenna can be used instead of a coupling coil. Here, a secondary battery is used as a power storage device, for example. By an electromagnetic induction method in which a primary coil of a charger and a secondary coil of the electronic device are magnetically coupled and a voltage is generated at the secondary coil with an alternating magnetic field generated from the primary coil, electric power is transmitted to the secondary coil side without contact. Through this mechanism, the secondary battery is charged. It is preferable that the coil be provided in contact with a curved surface of a structure body; therefore, it is preferable that the coil of the electronic device be provided over a flexible film. Here, the coil provided in the electronic device may be used as an antenna.

The secondary battery in a finger-mounted electronic device including a display module may be provided with an antenna for purposes other than contactless charging of the secondary battery. A memory may be further provided, and an antenna that enables electronic data transmission and reception or an antenna that enables display of position or time with a GPS function by obtaining positional information or GPS time may be provided.

Since an electronic device is to be in contact with part of a human body, it is preferable for safety that input and output terminals for charging or discharging a secondary battery be not exposed. In the case where the input and output terminals are exposed, the input and output terminals might be short-circuited by water such as rain, or the input and output terminals might be in contact with a human body and cause an electric shock. The use of an antenna enables a structure in which the input and output terminals are not exposed on a surface of the electronic device.

Note that this embodiment is the same as Embodiment 1 except that an antenna, a coil, and a converter for wireless power feeding are provided; therefore, the other components are not described in detail here.

As in Embodiment 1, a power storage device, here, a secondary battery is fixed to a board, and a display module is attached to the secondary battery. The secondary battery preferably has a bent shape. Furthermore, the secondary battery is preferably flexible. A converter for wireless power feeding and an antenna which are electrically connected to the secondary battery are provided. The converter for wireless power feeding is fixed so as to overlap with part of a display portion.

The converter for wireless power feeding and the antenna weigh less than or equal to 10 g, and the total weight does not significantly differ from that in Embodiment 1.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of an electronic device 400 including an antenna (not illustrated) and a charger 401. When the electronic device 400 is disposed over the charger 401, electric power can be supplied from an antenna of the charger 401 to the electronic device 400 to charge a secondary battery of the electronic device 400.

Information such as the remaining amount or time to full charge can be displayed on a display portion of the electronic device 300.

This embodiment can be freely combined with any of the other embodiments.

Embodiment 4

In this embodiment, the storage battery 108 having flexibility which can be used for one embodiment of the present invention is described.

In this embodiment, an example of using, as the storage battery 108 having flexibility, a thin secondary battery whose exterior body includes a film is described. FIG. 19 is an external view of the thin secondary battery. FIG. 20A illustrates a cross section taken along the dashed-dotted line A1-A2 in FIG. 19, and FIG. 20B illustrates a cross section taken along the dashed-dotted line B1-B2 in FIG. 19.

The thin secondary battery includes a sheet-like positive electrode 1203, a sheet-like negative electrode 1206, a separator 1207, an electrolytic solution 1208, an exterior body 1209 made of a film, a positive electrode lead electrode 1510, and a negative electrode lead electrode 1511. The separator 1207 is provided between the positive electrode 1203 and the negative electrode 1206 in the exterior body 1209. The exterior body 1209 is filled with the electrolytic solution 1208. Note that the positive electrode 1203 includes a positive electrode current collector 1201 and a positive electrode active material layer 1202. The negative electrode 1206 includes a negative electrode current collector 1204 and a negative electrode active material layer 1205.

There is no particular limitation on the materials of the positive electrode current collector 1201 and the negative electrode current collector 1204 as long as it has high conductivity without causing a significant chemical change in the power storage device. For example, the positive electrode current collector 1201 and the negative electrode current collector 1204 can be formed using a metal such as gold, platinum, zinc, iron, nickel, copper, aluminum, titanium, or tantalum, an alloy thereof (e.g., stainless steel), an alloy of the aforementioned metal and another metal, or the like. Alternatively, an aluminum alloy to which an element which improves heat resistance, such as silicon, titanium, neodymium, scandium, or molybdenum, is added can be used. Still alternatively, a metal element which forms silicide by reacting with silicon can be used. Examples of the metal element which forms silicide by reacting with silicon include zirconium, titanium, hafnium, vanadium, niobium, tantalum, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, cobalt, nickel, and the like. The positive electrode current collector 1201 and the negative electrode current collector 1204 can each have a foil-like shape, a plate-like shape (sheet-like shape), a net-like shape, a cylindrical shape, a coil shape, a punching-metal shape, an expanded-metal shape, or the like as appropriate. The positive electrode current collector 1201 and the negative electrode current collector 1204 each preferably have a thickness greater than or equal to 5 μm and less than or equal to 30 μm.

For the positive electrode active material layer 1202, a material into and from which carrier ions can be inserted and extracted can be used. For example, a lithium-containing material with an olivine crystal structure, a layered rock-salt crystal structure, and a spinel crystal structure can be used. As a metal which serves as the carrier ions, an alkali metal (e.g., lithium, sodium, or potassium), an alkaline earth metal (e.g., calcium, strontium, or barium), beryllium, magnesium, or the like can be used, for example.

In the case of using lithium as the carrier ions, for example, a compound such as LiFeO₂, LiCoO₂, LiNiO₂, LiMn₂O₄, V₂O₅, Cr₂O₅, or MnO₂ can be used for the positive electrode active material.

Alternatively, a lithium-containing complex phosphate (LiMPO₄(general formula) (M is at least one of Fe(II), Mn(II), Co(II), and Ni(II))) can be used. Typical examples of the general formula LiMPO₄ include LiFePO₄, LiNiPO₄, LiCoPO₄, LiMnPO₄, LiFe_(a)Ni_(b)PO₄, LiFe_(a)Co_(b)PO₄, LiFe_(a)Mn_(b)PO₄, LiNi_(a)Co_(b)PO₄, LiNi_(a)Mn_(b)PO₄ (a+b≤1, 0<a<1, and 0<b<1), LiFe_(c)Ni_(d)Co_(e)PO₄, LiFe_(c)Ni_(d)Mn_(e)PO₄, LiNi_(c)Co_(d)Mn_(e)PO₄ (c+d+e≤1, 0<c<1, 0<d<1, and 0<e<1), and LiFe_(j)Ni_(g)Co_(h)Mn_(i)PO₄ (f+g+h+i≤1, 0<f<1, 0<g<1, 0<h<1, and 0<i<1).

LiFePO₄ is particularly preferable because it properly satisfies conditions necessary for the positive electrode active material, such as safety, stability, high capacity density, high potential, and the existence of lithium ions which can be extracted in initial oxidation (charging).

Examples of the lithium-containing material with a layered rock-salt crystal structure include lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO₂); LiNiO₂; LiMnO₂; Li₂MnO₃; an NiCo-based lithium-containing material (general formula: LiNi_(x)Co_(1-x)O₂ (0<x<1)) such as LiNi_(0.8)Co_(0.2)O₂; an NiMn-based lithium-containing material (general formula: LiNi_(x)Mn_(1-x)O₂ (0<x<1)) such as LiNi_(0.5)Mn_(0.5)O₂; and an NiMnCo-based lithium-containing material (also referred to as NMC, and general formula: LiNi_(x)Mn_(y)Co_(1-x-y)O₂ (x>0, y>0, x+y<1)) such as LiNi_(1/3)Mn_(1/3)Co_(1/3)O₂. Moreover, Li(Ni_(0.8)Co_(0.15)Al_(0.05))O₂, Li₂MnO₃-LiMO₂ (M is Co, Ni, or Mn), and the like can be given.

Examples of the lithium-containing material with a spinel crystal structure include LiMn₂O₄, Li_(1+x)Mn_(2-x)O₄ (0<x<2), LiMn_(2-x)Al_(x)O₄ (0<x<2), and LiMn_(1.5)Ni_(0.5)O₄.

It is preferable to add a small amount of lithium nickel oxide (LiNiO₂ or LiNi_(1-x)MO₂ (M=Co, Al, or the like)) to a lithium-containing material with a spinel crystal structure which contains manganese such as LiMn₂O₄ because advantages such as minimization of the dissolution of manganese and the decomposition of an electrolytic solution can be obtained.

Alternatively, a lithium-containing material such as Li(_(2-j))MSiO₄ (general formula, and M is one or more of Fe(II), Mn(II), Co(II), and Ni(II), 0≤j≤2) can be used for the positive electrode active material. Typical examples of the general formula Li(_(2-j))MSiO₄ which can be used as a material are lithium compounds such as Li(_(2-j))FeSiO₄, Li(_(2-j))NiSiO₄, Li(_(2-j))CoSiO₄, Li(_(2-j))MnSiO₄, Li(_(2-j))Fe_(k)Ni/SiO₄, Li(_(2-j))Fe_(k)Co/SiO₄, Li(_(2-j))Fe_(k)Mn_(l)SiO₄, Li(_(2-j))Ni_(k)Co/SiO₄, Li(_(2-j))Ni_(k)Mn_(l)SiO₄ (k+l≤1, 0<k<1, and 0<1<1), Li(_(2-j))Fe_(m)Ni_(n)Co_(q)SiO₄, Li(_(2-j))Fe_(m)Ni_(n)Mn_(q)SiO₄, Li(_(2-j))Ni_(m)Co_(n)Mn_(q)SiO₄ (m+n+q≤1, 0<m<1, 0<n<1, and 0<q<1), and Li(_(2-j))Fe_(r)Ni_(s)Co_(t)Mn_(u)SiO₄ (r+s+t+u≤1, 0<r<1, 0<s<1, 0<t<1, and 0<u<1).

Still alternatively, a nasicon compound expressed by A_(x)M₂(XO₄)₃ (general formula) (A=Li, Na, or Mg, M=Fe, Mn, Ti, V, Nb, or Al, X=S, P, Mo, W, As, or Si) can be used as the positive electrode active material. Examples of the nasicon compound are Fe₂(MnO₄)₃, Fe₂(SO₄)₃, and Li₃Fe₂(PO₄)₃. Further alternatively, a compound expressed by Li₂MPO₄F, Li₂MP₂O₇, or Li₅MO₄ (general formula) (M=Fe or Mn), a perovskite fluoride such as NaF₃ and FeF₃, a metal chalcogenide (a sulfide, a selenide, or a telluride) such as TiS₂ and MoS₂, a material with an inverse spinel structure such as LiMVO₄, a vanadium oxide (V₂O₅, V₆O₁₃, LiV₃O₈, or the like), a manganese oxide, an organic sulfur compound, or the like can be used as the positive electrode active material.

The positive electrode active material layer 1202 may further include a binder for increasing adhesion of active materials, a conductive additive for increasing the conductivity of the positive electrode active material layer 1202, and the like in addition to the above-described positive electrode active materials.

A material with which a metal to be carrier ions can be dissolved and precipitated or a material into and from which carrier ions can be inserted and extracted can be used for the negative electrode active material layer 1205; for example, a lithium metal, a carbon material, a metal material, or a non-metal material can be used.

The lithium metal is preferable because of its low redox potential (−3.045 V lower than that of a standard hydrogen electrode) and high specific capacity per unit weight and per unit volume (3860 mAh/g and 2062 mAh/cm³).

Examples of the carbon material include graphite, graphitizing carbon (soft carbon), non-graphitizing carbon (hard carbon), a carbon nanotube, graphene, carbon black, and the like.

Examples of the graphite include artificial graphite such as meso-carbon microbeads (MCMB), coke-based artificial graphite, or pitch-based artificial graphite and natural graphite such as spherical natural graphite.

Graphite has a low potential substantially equal to that of a lithium metal (lower than or equal to 0.3 V vs. Li/Li⁺) when lithium ions are inserted into the graphite (while a lithium-graphite intercalation compound is formed). For this reason, a lithium-ion secondary battery can have a high operating voltage. In addition, graphite is preferable because of its advantages such as relatively high capacity per unit volume, small volume expansion, low cost, and safety greater than that of a lithium metal.

As the negative electrode active material, a material with which a metal to be carrier ions can be dissolved and precipitated or a material into and from which carrier ions can be inserted and extracted can be used. For example, in the case where carrier ions are lithium ions, a material including at least one of Mg, Ca, Al, Si, Ge, Sn, Pb, Sb, As, Bi, Ag, Au, Zn, Cd, Hg, In, and the like can be used. Such elements have higher capacity than carbon. In particular, silicon has a significantly high theoretical capacity of 4200 mAh/g. For this reason, silicon is preferably used as the negative electrode active material. Examples of the material with which a metal to be carrier ions can be dissolved and precipitated or a material into and from which carrier ions can be inserted and extracted include SiO, Mg₂Si, Mg₂Ge, SnO, SnO₂, Mg₂Sn, SnS₂, V₂Sn₃, FeSn₂, CoSn₂, Ni₃Sn₂, Cu₆Sn₅, Ag₃Sn, Ag₃Sb, Ni₂MnSb, CeSb₃, LaSn₃, La₃Co₂Sn₇, CoSb₃, InSb, SbSn, and the like.

Alternatively, as the negative electrode active material, an oxide such as titanium dioxide (TiO₂), lithium titanium oxide (Li₄Ti₅O₁₂), lithium-graphite intercalation compound (LixC₆), niobium pentoxide (Nb₂O₅), tungsten oxide (WO₂), or molybdenum oxide (MoO₂) can be used.

Still alternatively, as the negative electrode active material, Li_(3-x)M_(x)N (M=Co, Ni, or Cu) with a Li₃N structure, which is a nitride containing lithium and a transition metal, can be used. For example, Li_(2.6)Co_(0.4)N₃ is preferable because of high charge and discharge capacity (900 mAh/g and 1890 mAh/cm³).

A nitride containing lithium and a transition metal is preferably used, in which case lithium ions are contained in the negative electrode active material and thus the negative electrode active material can be used in combination with a material for a positive electrode active material which does not contain lithium ions, such as V₂O₅ or Cr₃O₈. In the case of using a material containing lithium ions as a positive electrode active material, the nitride containing lithium and a transition metal can be used for the negative electrode active material by extracting the lithium ions contained in the positive electrode active material in advance.

Alternatively, a material which causes a conversion reaction can be used as the negative electrode active material. For example, a transition metal oxide with which an alloying reaction with lithium is not caused, such as cobalt oxide (CoO), nickel oxide (NiO), or iron oxide (FeO), may be used for the negative electrode active material. Other examples of the material which causes a conversion reaction include oxides such as Fe₂O₃, CuO, Cu₂O, RuO₂, and Cr₂O₃, sulfides such as CoS_(0.89), NiS, or CuS, nitrides such as Zn₃N₂, Cu₃N, and Ge₃N₄, phosphides such as NiP₂, FeP₂, and CoP₃, and fluorides such as FeF₃ and BiF₃. Note that any of the fluorides can be used as a positive electrode active material because of its high potential.

The negative electrode active material layer 1205 may further include a binder for increasing adhesion of active materials, a conductive additive for increasing the conductivity of the negative electrode active material layer 1205, and the like in addition to the above-described negative electrode active materials.

As an electrolyte in the electrolytic solution 1208, a material which has carrier ion mobility and contains carrier ions is used. In the case where carrier ions are lithium ions, typical examples of the electrolyte are lithium salts such as LiPF₆, LiClO₄, Li(FSO₂)₂N, LiAsF₆, LiBF₄, LiCF₃SO₃, Li(CF₃SO₂)₂N, and Li(C₂F₅SO₂)₂N. One of these electrolytes may be used alone or two or more of them may be used in an appropriate combination and in an appropriate ratio. In order to stabilize a reaction product, a small amount (1 wt %) of vinylene carbonate (VC) may be added to the electrolytic solution so that the decomposition amount of the electrolytic solution is further reduced.

As a solvent of the electrolytic solution 1208, a material in which carrier ions can transfer is used. As the solvent of the electrolytic solution, an aprotic organic solvent is preferably used. Typical examples of aprotic organic solvents include ethylene carbonate (EC), propylene carbonate, dimethyl carbonate, diethyl carbonate (DEC), γ-butyrolactone, acetonitrile, dimethoxyethane, tetrahydrofuran, and the like, and one or more of these materials can be used. When a gelled high-molecular material is used as the solvent for the electrolytic solution, safety against liquid leakage and the like is improved. Further, the storage battery can be thinner and more lightweight. Typical examples of the gelled high-molecular material include a silicone gel, an acrylic gel, an acrylonitrile gel, a poly(ethylene oxide)-based gel, a poly(propylene oxide)-based gel, a gel of a fluorine-based polymer, and the like. Alternatively, the use of one or more of ionic liquids (room temperature molten salts) which have features of non-flammability and non-volatility as a solvent of the electrolytic solution can prevent the storage battery from exploding or catching fire even when the storage battery internally shorts out or the internal temperature increases owing to overcharging or the like.

As the separator 1207, an insulator can be used, for example. Examples of the insulator include cellulose (paper), polypropylene with pores, and polyethylene with pores.

In the secondary battery, a thin flexible film (such as a laminate film) is used as an exterior body. The laminate film refers to a stacked film of a base film and an adhesive synthetic resin film, or a stacked film of two or more kinds of films. For the base film, polyester such as PET or PBT, polyamide such as nylon 6 or nylon 66, an inorganic film formed by evaporation, or paper may be used. For the adhesive synthetic resin film, polyolefin such as PE or PP, an acrylic-based synthetic resin, an epoxy-based synthetic resin, or the like may be used. An object is laminated with the laminate film by thermocompression bonding using a laminating apparatus. Note that an anchor coat agent is preferably applied as pretreatment for the laminating step so that the adhesion between the laminate film and the object can be increased. As the anchor coat agent, an isocyanate-based material or the like may be used.

In the above structure, the exterior body 1209 of the secondary battery can change its form with a radius of curvature greater than or equal to 30 mm, preferably greater than or equal to 10 mm. An exterior body of a secondary battery is formed of one or two films. In the case of a secondary battery having a layered structure, a cross-sectional structure of the battery that is bent is surrounded by two curves of the film serving as the exterior body.

A description is given of the radius of curvature of a surface with reference to FIGS. 21A to 21C. In FIG. 21A, on a plane surface 1701 along which a curved surface 1700 is cut, part of a curve 1702 included in the curved surface 1700, is approximate to an arc of a circle, and the radius of the circle is referred to as a radius of curvature 1703 and the center of the circle is referred to as a center of curvature 1704. FIG. 21B is a top view of the curved surface 1700. FIG. 21C is a cross-sectional view of the curved surface 1700 taken along the plane surface 1701. When a curved surface is cut by a plane, the radius of curvature of a curve in a cross section differs depending on the angle between the curved surface and the plane or on the cut position, and the smallest radius of curvature is defined as the radius of curvature of a surface in this specification and the like.

In the case of curving a secondary battery in which a component 1805 including electrodes and an electrolytic solution is sandwiched between two films as exterior bodies, a radius 1802 of curvature of a film 1801 close to a center 1800 of curvature of the secondary battery is smaller than a radius 1804 of curvature of a film 1803 far from the center 1800 of curvature (FIG. 22A). When the secondary battery is curved and has an arc-shaped cross section, compressive stress is applied to a surface of the film on the side closer to the center 1800 of curvature and tensile stress is applied to a surface of the film on the side far from the center 1800 of curvature (FIG. 22B). However, by forming a pattern of projections and depressions on surfaces of the exterior bodies, influence of distortion can be reduced to be acceptable even when the compressive stress and the tensile stress are applied. For this reason, the secondary battery can change its form such that the exterior body on the side closer to the center of curvature has a curvature radius greater than or equal to 30 mm, preferably greater than or equal to 10 mm.

Note that the cross-sectional shape of the secondary battery is not limited to a simple arc shape, and the cross section can be partially arc-shaped; for example, a shape illustrated in FIG. 22C, a wavy shape illustrated in FIG. 22D, and an S shape can be used. When the curved surface of the secondary battery has a shape with a plurality of centers of curvature, the secondary battery can change its form such that a curved surface with the smallest radius of curvature among radii of curvature with respect to the plurality of centers of curvature, which is a surface of the exterior body on the side closer to the center of curvature, has a curvature radius greater than or equal to 30 mm, preferably greater than or equal to 10 mm.

This embodiment can be freely combined with any of the other embodiments.

Embodiment 5

A battery management unit (BMU) which can be used in combination with a plurality of battery cells, and a transistor suitable for a circuit included in the battery management unit, which are used when the plurality of battery cells are used in the ring-type electronic device described in any of the above embodiments, are described with reference to FIG. 28, FIGS. 29A to 29C, FIG. 30, FIG. 31, FIGS. 32A to 32C, FIG. 33, and FIG. 34. In this embodiment, a battery management unit of a power storage device including battery cells connected in series is particularly described.

When a plurality of battery cells connected in series are charged and discharged repeatedly, each battery cell has different capacity (output voltage) from one another due to the variation in characteristics among the battery cells. A discharge capacity of all of the plurality of battery cells connected in series depends on a battery cell with small capacity. The variation in capacities among the battery cells reduces the capacity of the all the battery cells at the time of discharging. Charging based on a battery cell with small capacity may cause insufficient charging. Charging based on a battery cell with high capacity may cause overcharge.

Thus, the battery management unit of the power storage device including battery cells connected in series has a function of reducing variation in capacities among the battery cells which causes insufficient charging or overcharge. Although circuit structures for reducing variation in capacities among the battery cells include a resistive type, a capacitor type, and an inductor type, here, a circuit structure which can reduce variation in capacities among the battery cells using transistors with a low off-state current is explained as an example

A transistor including an oxide semiconductor in its channel formation region (an OS transistor) is preferably used as the transistor with a low off-state current. When an OS transistor with a low off-state current is used in the circuit of the battery management unit of the power storage device, the amount of electric charge leaking from a battery can be reduced, and reduction in capacity with the lapse of time can be suppressed.

As the oxide semiconductor used in the channel formation region, an In-M-Zn oxide (M is Ga, Sn, Y, Zr, La, Ce, or Nd) is used. In the case where the atomic ratio of the metal elements of a target for forming an oxide semiconductor film is In:M:Zn=x₁:y₁:z₁, x₁/y₁ is preferably greater than or equal to ⅓ and less than or equal to 6, further preferably greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to 6, and z₁/y₁ is preferably greater than or equal to ⅓ and less than or equal to 6, further preferably greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to 6. Note that when z₁/y₁ is greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to 6, a CAAC-OS film as the oxide semiconductor film is easily formed.

Here, the details of the CAAC-OS film are described.

The CAAC-OS film is one of oxide semiconductor films having a plurality of c-axis aligned crystal parts.

In a combined analysis image (also referred to as a high-resolution TEM image) of a bright-field image and a diffraction pattern of a CAAC-OS film, which is obtained using a transmission electron microscope (TEM), a plurality of crystal parts can be observed. However, in the high-resolution TEM image, a boundary between crystal parts, that is, a grain boundary is not clearly observed. Thus, in the CAAC-OS film, a reduction in electron mobility due to the grain boundary is less likely to occur.

In the high-resolution cross-sectional TEM image of the CAAC-OS film observed in a direction substantially parallel to the sample surface, metal atoms arranged in a layered manner are seen in the crystal parts. Each metal atom layer reflects unevenness of a surface over which the CAAC-OS film is formed (hereinafter, a surface over which the CAAC-OS film is formed is referred to as a formation surface) or the top surface of the CAAC-OS film, and is arranged parallel to the formation surface or the top surface of the CAAC-OS film.

On the other hand, according to the high-resolution planar TEM image of the CAAC-OS film observed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sample surface, metal atoms are arranged in a triangular or hexagonal configuration in the crystal parts. However, there is no regularity of arrangement of metal atoms between different crystal parts.

A CAAC-OS film is subjected to structural analysis with an X-ray diffraction (XRD) apparatus. For example, when the CAAC-OS film including an InGaZnO₄ crystal is analyzed by an out-of-plane method, a peak appears frequently when the diffraction angle (2θ) is around 31°. This peak is derived from the (009) plane of the InGaZnO₄ crystal, which indicates that crystals in the CAAC-OS film have c-axis alignment, and that the c-axes are aligned in a direction substantially perpendicular to the formation surface or the top surface of the CAAC-OS film.

Note that when the CAAC-OS film with an InGaZnO₄ crystal is analyzed by an out-of-plane method, a peak of 2θ may also be observed at around 36°, in addition to the peak of 2θ at around 31°. The peak of 2θ at around 36° indicates that a crystal having no c-axis alignment is included in part of the CAAC-OS film. It is preferable that in the CAAC-OS film, a peak of 2θ appear at around 31° and a peak of 2θ not appear at around 36°.

The CAAC-OS film is an oxide semiconductor film having low impurity concentration. The impurity is an element other than the main components of the oxide semiconductor film, such as hydrogen, carbon, silicon, or a transition metal element. In particular, an element that has higher bonding strength to oxygen than a metal element included in the oxide semiconductor film, such as silicon, disturbs the atomic arrangement of the oxide semiconductor film by depriving the oxide semiconductor film of oxygen and causes a decrease in crystallinity. Further, a heavy metal such as iron or nickel, argon, carbon dioxide, or the like has a large atomic radius (molecular radius), and thus disturbs the atomic arrangement of the oxide semiconductor film and causes a decrease in crystallinity when it is contained in the oxide semiconductor film. Note that the impurity contained in the oxide semiconductor film might serve as a carrier trap or a carrier generation source.

The CAAC-OS film is an oxide semiconductor film having a low density of defect states. In some cases, oxygen vacancies in the oxide semiconductor film serve as carrier traps or serve as carrier generation sources when hydrogen is captured therein.

The state in which impurity concentration is low and density of defect states is low (the number of oxygen vacancies is small) is referred to as a “highly purified intrinsic” or “substantially highly purified intrinsic” state. A highly purified intrinsic or substantially highly purified intrinsic oxide semiconductor film has few carrier generation sources, and thus can have a low carrier density. Thus, a transistor including the oxide semiconductor film rarely has a negative threshold voltage (is rarely normally on). The highly purified intrinsic or substantially highly purified intrinsic oxide semiconductor film has few carrier traps. Accordingly, the transistor including the oxide semiconductor film has little variation in electrical characteristics and high reliability. Electric charge trapped by the carrier traps in the oxide semiconductor film takes a long time to be released, and might behave like fixed electric charge. Thus, the transistor which includes the oxide semiconductor film having high impurity concentration and a high density of defect states has unstable electrical characteristics in some cases.

With the use of the CAAC-OS film in a transistor, variation in the electrical characteristics of the transistor due to irradiation with visible light or ultraviolet light is small.

Since the OS transistor has a wider band gap than a transistor including silicon in its channel formation region (Si transistor), dielectric breakdown is unlikely to occur when a high voltage is applied. Although a voltage of several hundreds of volts is generated when battery cells are connected in series, the above-described OS transistor is suitable for a circuit of a battery management unit which is used for such battery cells in the power storage device.

FIG. 28 is an example of a block diagram of a power storage device. A power storage device BT00 illustrated in FIG. 28 includes a terminal pair BT01, a terminal pair BT02, a switching control circuit BT03, a switching circuit BT04, a switching circuit BT05, a voltage transformation control circuit BT06, a voltage transformer circuit BT07, and a battery portion BT08 including a plurality of battery cells BT09 connected in series.

In the power storage device BT00 in FIG. 28, a portion including the terminal pair BT01, the terminal pair BT02, the switching control circuit BT03, the switching circuit BT04, the switching circuit BT05, the voltage transformation control circuit BT06, and the voltage transformer circuit BT07 can be referred to as a battery management unit.

The switching control circuit BT03 controls operations of the switching circuits BT04 and BT05. Specifically, the switching control circuit BT03 selects battery cells to be discharged (a discharge battery cell group) and battery cells to be charged (a charge battery cell group) in accordance with a voltage measured for each battery cell BT09.

Furthermore, the switching control circuit BT03 outputs a control signal S1 and a control signal S2 on the basis of the selected discharge battery cell group and the selected charge battery cell group. The control signal S1 is output to the switching circuit BT04. The control signal S1 controls the switching circuit BT04 so that the terminal pair BT01 and the discharge battery cell group are connected. In addition, the control signal S2 is output to the switching circuit BT05. The control signal S2 controls the switching circuit BT05 so that the terminal pair BT02 and the charge battery cell group are connected.

The switching control circuit BT03 generates the control signal S1 and the control signal S2 on the basis of connection relation of the switching circuit BT04, the switching circuit BT05, and the voltage transformer circuit BT07 so that terminals having the same polarity of the terminal pair BT01 and the discharge battery cell group are connected with each other, or terminals having the same polarity of the terminal pair BT02 and the charge battery cell group are connected with each other.

An operation of the switching control circuit BT03 is described in detail.

First, the switching control circuit BT03 measures the voltage of each of the plurality of battery cells BT09. Then, the switching control circuit BT03 determines that a battery cell BT09 having a voltage higher than a predetermined threshold value is a high-voltage battery cell (high-voltage cell) and that a battery cell BT09 having a voltage lower than the predetermined threshold value is a low-voltage battery cell (low-voltage cell), for example.

As a method for determining whether a battery cell is a high-voltage cell or a low-voltage cell, any of various methods can be employed. For example, the switching control circuit BT03 may determine whether each battery cell BT09 is a high-voltage cell or a low-voltage cell on the basis of the voltage of a battery cell BT09 having a highest voltage or a battery cell BT09 having a lowest voltage among the plurality of battery cells BT09. In this case, the switching control circuit BT03 can determine whether each battery cell BT09 is a high-voltage cell or a low-voltage cell by determining whether the ratio of a voltage of each battery cell BT09 to the reference voltage is at a predetermined value or more. Then, the switching control circuit BT03 determines a charge battery cell group and a discharge battery cell group on the basis of the determination result.

Note that high-voltage cells and low-voltage cells are mixed in various states in the plurality of battery cells BT09. For example, the switching control circuit BT03 selects a portion having the largest number of high-voltage cells connected in series as the discharge battery cell group in the mixed high-voltage cells and low-voltage cells. Furthermore, the switching control circuit BT03 selects a portion having the largest number of low-voltage cells connected in series as the charge battery cell group. In addition, the switching control circuit BT03 may preferentially select battery cells BT09 which are near overcharge or overdischarge as the discharge battery cell group or the charge battery cell group.

Here, operation examples of the switching control circuit BT03 in this embodiment is described with reference to FIGS. 29A to 29C. FIGS. 29A to 29C illustrate operation examples of the switching control circuit BT03. Note that FIGS. 29A to 29C each illustrate the case where four battery cells BT09 are connected in series as an example for convenience of explanation.

FIG. 29A shows the case where the relation of the voltages is Va=Vb=Vc>Vd where the voltages Va, Vb, Vc, and Vd are voltages of a battery cell a, a battery cell b, a battery cell c, and a battery cell d, respectively. That is, a series of three high-voltage cells a to c and one low-voltage cell d are connected in series. In that case, the switching control circuit BT03 selects the series of three high-voltage cells a to c as the discharge battery cell group. In addition, the switching control circuit BT03 selects the low-voltage cell d as the charge battery cell group.

Next, FIG. 29B shows the case where the relation of the voltages is Vc>Va=Vb>>Vd. That is, a series of two low-voltage cells a and b, one high-voltage cell c, and one low-voltage cell d which is close to overdischarge are connected in series. In that case, the switching control circuit BT03 selects the high-voltage cell c as the discharge battery cell group. Since the low-voltage cell d is close to overdischarge, the switching control circuit BT03 preferentially selects the low-voltage cell d as the charge battery cell group instead of the series of low-voltage cells a and b.

Lastly, FIG. 29C shows the case where the relation of the voltages is Va>Vb=Vc=Vd. That is, one high-voltage cell a and a series of three low-voltage cells b to d are connected in series. In that case, the switching control circuit BT03 selects the high-voltage cell a as the discharge battery cell group. In addition, the switching control circuit BT03 selects the series of three low-voltage cells b to d as the charge battery cell group.

On the basis of the determination result shown in the examples of FIGS. 29A to 29C, the switching control circuit BT03 outputs, to the switching circuit BT04 and the switching circuit BT05, the control signal S1 in which information showing the discharge battery cell group being connection destination of the switching circuit BT04 is set and the control signal S2 in which information showing the charge battery cell group being a connection destination of the switching circuit BT05 is set, respectively.

The above is the detailed description of the operation of the switching control circuit BT03.

The switching circuit BT04 sets the discharge battery cell group selected by the switching control circuit BT03 as the connection destination of the terminal pair BT01 in response to the control signal S1 output from the switching control circuit BT03.

The terminal pair BT01 includes a pair of terminals A1 and A2. The switching circuit BT04 sets the connection destination of the terminal pair BT01 by connecting one of the pair of terminals A1 and A2 to a positive electrode terminal of a battery cell BT09 positioned on the most upstream side (on the high potential side) of the discharge battery cell group, and the other to a negative electrode terminal of a battery cell BT09 positioned on the most downstream side (on the low potential side) of the discharge battery cell group. Note that the switching circuit BT04 can recognize the position of the discharge battery cell group on the basis of the information set in the control signal Si.

The switching circuit BT05 sets the charge battery cell group selected by the switching control circuit BT03 as the connection destination of the terminal pair BT02 in response to the control signal S2 output from the switching control circuit BT03.

The terminal pair BT02 includes a pair of terminals B1 and B2. The switching circuit BT05 sets the connection destination of the terminal pair BT02 by connecting one of the pair of terminals B1 and B2 to a positive electrode terminal of a battery cell BT09 positioned on the most upstream side (on the high potential side) of the charge battery cell group, and the other to a negative electrode terminal of a battery cell BT09 positioned on the most downstream side (on the low potential side) of the charge battery cell group. Note that the switching circuit BT05 can recognize the position of the charge battery cell group on the basis of the information set in the control signal S2.

FIG. 30 and FIG. 31 are circuit diagrams showing configuration examples of the switching circuits BT04 and BT05.

In FIG. 30, the switching circuit BT04 includes a plurality of transistors BT10, a bus BT11, and a bus BT12. The bus BT11 is connected to the terminal A1. The bus BT12 is connected to the terminal A2. Sources or drains of the plurality of transistors BT10 are connected alternately to the bus BT11 and the bus BT12. Sources or drains which are not connected to the bus BT11 and the bus BT12 of the plurality of transistors BT10 are each connected between two adjacent battery cells BT09.

A source or drain of the transistor BT10 which is not connected to the bus BT11 on the most upstream side of the plurality of transistors BT10 is connected to a positive electrode terminal of a battery cell BT09 on the most upstream side of the battery portion BT08. A source or drain of the transistor BT10 which is not connected to the bus BT11 on the most downstream side of the plurality of transistors BT10 is connected to a negative electrode terminal of a battery cell BT09 on the most downstream side of the battery portion BT08.

The switching circuit BT04 connects the discharge battery cell group to the terminal pair BT01 by bringing one of the plurality of transistors BT10 which are connected to the bus BT11 and one of the plurality of transistors BT10 which are connected to the bus BT12 into an on state in response to the control signal Si supplied to gates of the plurality of transistors BT10. Accordingly, the positive electrode terminal of the battery cell BT09 on the most upstream side of the discharge battery cell group is connected to one of the pair of terminals A1 and A2. In addition, the negative electrode terminal of the battery cell BT09 on the most downstream side of the discharge battery cell group is connected to the other of the pair of terminals A1 and A2 (i.e., a terminal which is not connected to the positive electrode terminal).

OS transistors are preferably used as the transistors BT10. Since the off-state current of the OS transistor is low, the amount of electric charge leaking from a battery cell which do not belong to the discharge battery cell group can be reduced, and reduction in capacity with the lapse of time can be suppressed. In addition, dielectric breakdown is unlikely to occur in the OS transistor when a high voltage is applied. Therefore, the battery cell BT09 and the terminal pair BT01, which are connected to the transistor BT10 in an off state, can be insulated from each other even when an output voltage of the discharge battery cell group is high.

In FIG. 30, the switching circuit BT05 includes a plurality of transistors BT13, a current control switch BT14, a bus BT15, and a bus BT16. The bus BT15 and the bus BT16 are provided between the plurality of transistors BT13 and the current control switch BT14. Sources or drains of the plurality of transistors BT13 are connected alternately to the bus BT15 and the bus BT16. Sources or drains which are not connected to the bus BT15 and the bus BT16 of of the plurality of transistors BT13 are each connected between two adjacent battery cells BT09.

A source or drain which is not connected to the bus BT15 on the most upstream side of the plurality of transistors BT13 is connected to the positive electrode terminal of the battery cell BT09 on the most upstream side of the battery portion BT08. A source or drain which is not connected to the bus BT15 on the most downstream side of the plurality of transistors BT13 is connected to the negative electrode terminal of the battery cell BT09 on the most downstream side of the battery portion BT08.

OS transistors are preferably used as the transistors BT13 like the transistors BT10. Since the off-state current of the OS transistor is low, the amount of electric charge leaking from the battery cells which do not belong to the charge battery cell group can be reduced, and reduction in capacity with the lapse of time can be suppressed. In addition, dielectric breakdown is unlikely to occur in the OS transistor when a high voltage is applied. Therefore, the battery cell BT09 and the terminal pair BT02, which are connected to the transistor BT13 in an off state, can be insulated from each other even when a voltage for charging the charge battery cell group is high.

The current control switch BT14 includes a switch pair BT17 and a switch pair BT18 and each of the switch pairs BT17 and BT18 includes two switches in parallel. One end of each switch included in the switch pair BT17 is connected to the terminal B1. The other end of one switch included in the switch pair BT17 is connected to the bus BT15, and the other end of the other switch included in the switch pair BT17 is connected to the bus BT16. One end of each switch included in the switch pair BT18 is connected to the terminal B2. The other end of one switch included in the switch pair BT18 is connected to the bus BT15, and the other end of the other switch included in the switch pair BT18 is connected to the bus BT16.

OS transistors are preferably used for the switches included in the switch pair BT17 and the switch pair BT18 like the transistors BT10 and BT13.

The switching circuit BT05 connects the charge battery cell group and the terminal pair BT02 by controlling the combination of on and off states of the transistors BT13 and the current control switch BT14 in response to the control signal S2.

For example, the switching circuit BT05 connects the charge battery cell group and the terminal pair BT02 in the following manner.

The switching circuit BT05 brings a transistor BT13 connected to the positive electrode terminal of a battery cell BT09 on the most upstream side of the charge battery cell group into an on state in response to the control signal S2 supplied to gates of the plurality of transistors BT13. In addition, the switching circuit BT05 brings a transistor BT13 connected to the negative electrode terminal of a battery cell BT09 on the most downstream side of the charge battery cell group into an on state in response to the control signal S2 supplied to the gates of the plurality of transistors BT13.

The polarities of voltages applied to the terminal pair BT02 can vary in accordance with the structures of the voltage transformer circuit BT07 and the discharge battery cell group connected to the terminal pair BT01. In order to supply current in a direction for charging the charge battery cell group, terminals with the same polarity of the terminal pair BT02 and the charge battery cell group are required to be connected. In view of this, the current control switch BT14 is controlled by the control signal S2 so that the connection destination of the switch pair BT17 and that of the switch pair BT18 are changed in accordance with the polarities of the voltages applied to the terminal pair BT02.

The state where voltages are applied to the terminal pair BT02 so as to make the terminal B1 a positive electrode and the terminal B2 a negative electrode is described as an example. Here, in the case where the battery cell BT09 positioned on the most downstream side of the battery portion BT08 is in the charge battery cell group, the switch pair BT17 is controlled to be connected to the positive electrode terminal of the battery cell BT09 in response to the control signal S2. That is, the switch of the switch pair BT17 connected to the bus BT16 is turned on, and the switch of the switch pair BT17 connected to the bus BT15 is turned off. In contrast, the switch pair BT18 is controlled to be connected to the negative electrode terminal of the battery cell BT09 in response to the control signal S2. That is, the switch of the switch pair BT18 connected to the bus BT15 is turned on, and the switch of the switch pair BT18 connected to the bus BT16 is turned off. In this manner, terminals with the same polarity of the terminal pair BT02 and the charge battery cell group are connected to each other. In addition, the current which flows from the terminal pair BT02 is controlled to be supplied in a direction so as to charge the charge battery cell group.

In addition, instead of the switching circuit BT05, the switching circuit BT04 may include the current control switch BT14. In that case, the polarities of the voltages applied to the terminal pair BT02 are controlled by controlling the polarities of the voltages applied to the terminal pair BT01 in response to the operation of the current control switch BT14 and the control signal S1. Thus, the current control switch BT14 controls the direction of current which flows to the charge battery cell group from the terminal pair BT02.

FIG. 31 is a circuit diagram illustrating structure examples of the switching circuit BT04 and the switching circuit BT05 which are different from those of FIG. 30.

In FIG. 31, the switching circuit BT04 includes a plurality of transistor pairs BT21, a bus BT24, and a bus BT25. The bus BT24 is connected to the terminal A1. The bus BT25 is connected to the terminal A2. Transistors BT22 and transistors BT23 are branched from one ends of the plurality of transistor pairs BT21. Sources or drains of the transistors BT22 are connected to the bus BT24. Sources or drains of the transistors BT23 are connected to the bus BT25. In addition, the other ends of the plurality of transistor pairs BT21 are each connected between two adjacent battery cells BT09. The other end of the transistor pair BT21 on the most upstream side of the plurality of transistor pairs BT21 is connected to the positive electrode terminal of the battery cell BT09 on the most upstream side of the battery portion BT08. The other end of the transistor pair BT21 on the most downstream side of the plurality of transistor pairs BT21 is connected to a negative electrode terminal of the battery cell BT09 on the most downstream side of the battery portion BT08.

The switching circuit BT04 switches the connection destination of the transistor pair BT21 to one of the terminal A1 and the terminal A2 by turning on or off the transistors BT22 and BT23 in response to the control signal S1. Specifically, when the transistor BT22 is turned on, the transistor BT23 is turned off, so that the connection destination of the transistor pair BT21 is the terminal A1. On the other hand, when the transistor BT23 is turned on, the transistor BT22 is turned off, so that the connection destination of the transistor pair BT21 is the terminal A2. Which of the transistors BT22 and BT23 is turned on is determined by the control signal S1.

Two transistor pairs BT21 are used to connect the terminal pair BT01 and the discharge battery cell group. Specifically, the connection destinations of the two transistor pairs BT21 are determined on the basis of the control signal S1, and the discharge battery cell group and the terminal pair BT01 are connected. The connection destinations of the two transistor pairs BT21 are controlled by the control signal Si so that one of the connection destinations is the terminal A1 and the other is the terminal A2.

The switching circuit BT05 includes a plurality of transistor pairs BT31, a bus BT34 and a bus BT35. The bus BT34 is connected to the terminal B1. The bus BT35 is connected to the terminal B2. Transistors BT32 and transistors BT33 are branched from one ends of the plurality of transistor pairs BT31. One end extending from the transistor BT32 is connected to the bus BT34. One end extending from the transistor BT33 is connected to the bus BT35. The other ends of the plurality of transistor pairs BT31 are each connected between two adjacent battery cells BT09. The other end of the transistor pair BT31 on the most upstream side of the plurality of transistor pairs BT31 is connected to the positive electrode terminal of the battery cell BT09 on the most upstream side of the battery portion BT08. The other end of the transistor pair BT31 on the most downstream side of the plurality of transistor pairs BT31 is connected to the negative electrode terminal of the battery cell BT09 on the most downstream side of the battery portion BT08.

The switching circuit BT05 switches the connection destination of the transistor pair BT31 to one of the terminal B1 and the terminal B2 by turning on or off the transistors BT32 and BT33 in response to the control signal S2. Specifically, when the transistor BT32 is turned on, the transistor BT33 is turned off, so that the connection destination of the transistor pair BT31 is the terminal B1. On the other hand, when the transistor BT33 is turned on, the transistor BT32 is turned off, so that the connection destination of the transistor pair BT31 is the terminal B2. Which of the transistors BT32 and BT33 is turned on is determined by the control signal S2.

Two transistor pairs BT31 are used to connect the terminal pair BT02 and the charge battery cell group. Specifically, the connection destinations of the two transistor pairs BT31 are determined on the basis of the control signal S2, and the charge battery cell group and the terminal pair BT02 are connected. The connection destinations of the two transistor pairs BT31 are controlled by the control signal S2 so that one of the connection destinations is the terminal B1 and the other is the terminal B2.

The connection destinations of the two transistor pairs BT31 are determined by the polarities of the voltages applied to the terminal pair BT02. Specifically, in the case where voltages which make the terminal B1 a positive electrode and the terminal B2 a negative electrode are applied to the terminal pair BT02, the transistor pair BT31 on the upstream side is controlled by the control signal S2 so that the transistor BT32 is turned on and the transistor BT33 is turned off. In contrast, the transistor pair BT31 on the downstream side is controlled by the control signal S2 so that the transistor BT33 is turned on and the transistor BT32 is turned off. In the case where voltages which make the terminal B1 a negative electrode and the terminal B2 a positive electrode are applied to the terminal pair BT02, the transistor pair BT31 on the upstream side is controlled by the control signal S2 so that the transistor BT33 is turned on and the transistor BT32 is turned off. In contrast, the transistor pair BT31 on the downstream side is controlled by the control signal S2 so that the transistor BT32 is turned on and the transistor BT33 is turned off. In this manner, terminals with the same polarity of the terminal pair BT02 and the charge battery cell group are connected to each other. In addition, the current which flows from the terminal pair BT02 is controlled to be supplied in a direction for charging the charge battery cell group.

The voltage transformation control circuit BT06 controls operation of the voltage transformer circuit BT07. The voltage transformation control circuit BT06 generates a voltage transformation signal S3 for controlling the operation of the voltage transformer circuit BT07 on the basis of the number of battery cells BT09 included in the discharge battery cell group and the number of the battery cells BT09 included in the charge battery cell group and outputs the voltage transformation signal S3 to the voltage transformer circuit BT07.

In the case where the number of the battery cells BT09 included in the discharge battery cell group is larger than that included in the charge battery cell group, it is necessary to prevent a charging voltage which is too high from being applied to the charge battery cell group. Thus, the voltage transformation control circuit BT06 outputs the transformation signal S3 for controlling the voltage transformer circuit BT07 so that a discharging voltage (Vdis) is lowered within a range where the charge battery cell group can be charged.

In the case where the number of the battery cells BT09 included in the discharge battery cell group is less than or equal to that included in the charge battery cell group, a voltage necessary for charging the charge battery cell group needs to be secured. Therefore, the voltage transformation control circuit BT06 outputs the voltage transformation signal S3 for controlling the voltage transformer circuit BT07 so that the discharging voltage (Vdis) is raised within a range where charging voltage that is too high is not applied to the charge battery cell group.

The voltage value of the charging voltage which is too high is determined in view of product specifications and the like of the battery cell BT09 used in the battery portion BT08. The voltage which is raised or lowered by the voltage transformer circuit BT07 is applied as a charging voltage (Vcha) to the terminal pair BT02.

Here, operation examples of the voltage transformation control circuit BT06 in this embodiment are described with reference to FIGS. 32A to 32C. FIGS. 32A to 32C are conceptual diagrams for explaining the operation examples of the voltage transformation control circuit BT06 corresponding to the discharge battery cell group and the charge battery cell group described in FIGS. 29A to 29C. FIGS. 32A to 32C each illustrate a battery control unit BT41. The battery control unit BT41 includes the terminal pair BT01, the terminal pair BT02, the switching control circuit BT03, the switching circuit BT04, the switching circuit BT05, the voltage transformation control circuit BT06, and the voltage transformer circuit BT07.

In an example illustrated in FIG. 32A, the series of three high-voltage cells a to c and one low-voltage cell d are connected in series as described in FIG. 29A. In that case, as described using FIG. 29A, the switching control circuit BT03 selects the high-voltage cells a to c as the discharge battery cell group, and selects the low-voltage cell d as the charge battery cell group. The voltage transformation control circuit BT06 calculates a conversion ratio N for converting the discharging voltage (Vdis) to the charging voltage (Vcha) on the basis of the ratio of the number of the battery cells BT09 included in the charge battery cell group to the number of the battery cells BT09 included in the discharge battery cell group.

In the case where the number of the battery cells BT09 included in the discharge battery cell group is larger than the number of the battery cells BT09 included in the charge battery cell group, when a discharging voltage is applied to the terminal pair BT02 without transforming the voltage, overvoltage may be applied to the battery cells BT09 included in the charge battery cell group through the terminal pair BT02. Thus, in the case of FIG. 32A, it is necessary that a charging voltage (Vcha) applied to the terminal pair BT02 be lower than the discharging voltage (Vdis). In addition, in order to charge the charge battery cell group, it is necessary that the charging voltage be higher than the total voltage of the battery cells BT09 included in the charge battery cell group. Thus, the transformation control circuit BT06 sets the conversion ratio N larger than the ratio of the number of the battery cells BT09 included in the charge battery cell group to the number of the battery cells BT09 included in the discharge battery cell group.

Thus, the voltage transformation control circuit BT06 preferably sets the conversion ratio N larger than the ratio of the number of the battery cells BT09 included in the charge battery cell group to the number of the battery cells BT09 included in the discharge battery cell group by about 1% to 10%. Here, the charging voltage is made larger than the voltage of the charge battery cell group, but the charging voltage is equal to the voltage of the charge battery cell group in reality. Note that the voltage transformation control circuit BT06 feeds a current for charging the charge battery cell group in accordance with the conversion ratio N in order to make the voltage of the charge battery cell group equal to the charging voltage. The value of the current is set by the voltage transformation control circuit BT06.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 32A, since the number of the battery cells BT09 included in the discharge battery cell group is three and the number of the battery cells BT09 included in the charge battery cell group is one, the voltage transformation control circuit BT06 calculates a value which is slightly larger than ⅓ as the conversion ratio N. Then, the voltage transformation control circuit BT06 outputs the voltage transformation signal S3 which lowers the discharging voltage in accordance with the conversion ratio N and converts the voltage into a charging voltage, to the voltage transformer circuit BT07. The voltage transformer circuit BT07 applies the charging voltage which is obtained by transformation in response to the voltage transformation signal S3 to the terminal pair BT02. Then, the battery cells BT09 included in the charge battery cell group are charged with the charging voltage applied to the terminal pair BT02.

In each of examples illustrated in FIGS. 32B and 32C, the conversion ratio N is calculated in a manner similar to that of FIG. 32A. In each of the examples illustrated in FIGS. 32B and 32C, since the number of the battery cells BT09 included in the discharge battery cell group is less than or equal to the number of the battery cells BT09 included in the charge battery cell group, the conversion ratio N is 1 or more. Therefore, in this case, the voltage transformation control circuit BT06 outputs the voltage transformation signal S3 which raises the discharging voltage and converts the voltage into the charging voltage.

The voltage transformer circuit BT07 converts the discharging voltage applied to the terminal pair BT01 into a charging voltage on the basis of the voltage transformation signal S3. The voltage transformer circuit BT07 applies the converted charging voltage to the terminal pair BT02. Here, the voltage transformer circuit BT07 electrically insulates the terminal pair BT01 from the terminal pair BT02. Accordingly, the voltage transformer circuit BT07 prevents a short circuit due to a difference between the absolute voltage of the negative electrode terminal of the battery cell BT09 on the most downstream side of the discharge battery cell group and the absolute voltage of the negative electrode terminal of the battery cell BT09 on the most downstream side of the charge battery cell group. Furthermore, the voltage transformer circuit BT07 converts the discharging voltage, which is the total voltage of the discharge battery cell group, into the charging voltage on the basis of the voltage transformation signal S3 as described above.

An insulated direct current (DC)-DC converter or the like can be used in the voltage transformer circuit BT07. In that case, the voltage transformation control circuit BT06 controls the charging voltage converted by the voltage transformer circuit BT07 by outputting a signal for controlling the on/off ratio (the duty ratio) of the insulated DC-DC converter as the voltage transformation signal S3.

Examples of the insulated DC-DC converter include a flyback converter, a forward converter, a ringing choke converter (RCC), a push-pull converter, a half-bridge converter, and a full-bridge converter, and a suitable converter is selected in accordance with the value of the intended output voltage.

The structure of the voltage transformer circuit BT07 including the insulated DC-DC converter is illustrated in FIG. 33. An insulated DC-DC converter BT51 includes a switch portion BT52 and a transformer BT53. The switch portion BT52 is a switch for switching on/off of the insulated DC-DC converter, and a metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET), a bipolar transistor, or the like is used as the switch portion BT52. The switch portion BT52 periodically turns on and off the insulated DC-DC converter BT51 in accordance with the voltage transformation signal S3 controlling the on/off ratio which is output from the voltage transformation control circuit BT06. The switch portion BT52 can have any of various structures in accordance with the type of the insulated DC-DC converter which is used. The transformer BT53 converts the discharging voltage applied from the terminal pair BT01 into the charging voltage. In detail, the transformer BT53 operates in conjunction with the on/off state of the switch portion BT52 and converts the discharging voltage into the charging voltage in accordance with the on/off ratio. As the time during which the switch portion BT52 is on becomes longer in its switching period, the charging voltage is increased. On the other hand, as the time during which the switch portion BT52 is on becomes shorter in its switching period, the charging voltage is decreased. In the case where the insulated DC-DC converter is used, the terminal pair BT01 and the terminal pair BT02 can be insulated from each other inside the transformer BT53.

A flow of operation of the power storage device BT00 in this embodiment is described with reference to FIG. 34. FIG. 34 is a flow chart illustrating the flow of the operation of the power storage device BT00.

First, the power storage device BT00 obtains a voltage measured for each of the plurality of battery cells BT09 (step S001). Then, the power storage device BT00 determines whether or not the condition for starting the operation of reducing variation in voltages of the plurality of battery cells BT09 is satisfied (step S002). An example of the condition can be that the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value of the voltage measured for each of the plurality of battery cells BT09 is higher than or equal to the predetermined threshold value. In the case where the condition is not satisfied (step S002: NO), the power storage device BT00 does not perform the following operation because voltages of the battery cells BT09 are well balanced. In contrast, in the case where the condition is satisfied (step S002: YES), the power storage device BT00 performs the operation of reducing variation in the voltages of the battery cells BT09. In this operation, the power storage device BT00 determines whether each battery cell BT09 is a high-voltage cell or a low-voltage cell on the basis of the measured voltage of each cell (step S003). Then, the power storage device BT00 determines a discharge battery cell group and a charge battery cell group on the basis of the determination result (step S004). In addition, the power storage device BT00 generates the control signal S1 for setting the determined discharge battery cell group as the connection destination of the terminal pair BT01, and the control signal S2 for setting the determined charge battery cell group as the connection determination of the terminal pair BT02 (step S005). The power storage device BT00 outputs the generated control signals S1 and S2 to the switching circuit BT04 and the switching circuit BT05, respectively. Then, the switching circuit BT04 connects the terminal pair BT01 and the discharge battery cell group, and the switching circuit BT05 connects the terminal pair BT02 and the discharge battery cell group (step S006). The power storage device BT00 generates the voltage transformation signal S3 based on the number of the battery cells BT09 included in the discharge battery cell group and the number of the battery cells BT09 included in the charge battery cell group (step S007). Then, the power storage device BT00 converts the discharging voltage applied to the terminal pair BT01 into a charging voltage based on the voltage transformation signal S3 and applies the charging voltage to the terminal pair BT02 (step S008). In this way, electric charge of the discharge battery cell group is transferred to the charge battery cell group.

Although the plurality of steps are shown in order in the flow chart of FIG. 34, the order of performing the steps is not limited to the order.

According to the above embodiment, when an electric charge is transferred from the discharge battery cell group to the charge battery cell group, a structure where an electric charge from the discharge battery cell group is temporarily stored, and the stored electric charge is sent to the charge battery cell group is unnecessary, unlike in the a capacitor type circuit. Accordingly, the charge transfer efficiency per unit time can be increased. In addition, the switching circuit BT04 and the switching circuit BT05 determine which battery cell in the discharge battery cell group and the charge battery cell group to be connected to the transformer circuit.

Furthermore, the voltage transformer circuit BT07 converts the discharging voltage applied to the terminal pair BT01 into the charging voltage based on the number of the battery cells BT09 included in the discharge battery cell group and the number of the battery cells BT09 included in the charge battery cell group, and applies the charging voltage to the terminal pair BT02. Thus, even when any battery cell BT09 is selected as the discharge battery cell group and the charge battery cell group, an electric charge can be transferred without any problems.

Furthermore, the use of OS transistors as the transistor BT10 and the transistor BT13 can reduce the amount of electric charge leaking from the battery cells BT09 which do not belong to the charge battery cell group or the discharge battery cell group. Accordingly, a decrease in capacity of the battery cells BT09 which do not contribute to charging or discharging can be suppressed. In addition, the variation in characteristics of the OS transistor due to heat is smaller than that of an Si transistor. Accordingly, even when the temperature of the battery cells BT09 is increased, an operation such as turning on or off the transistors in response to the control signals Si and S2 can be performed normally.

This embodiment can be freely combined with any of the other embodiments.

This application is based on Japanese Patent Application serial no. 2014-217821 filed with Japan Patent Office on Oct. 24, 2014, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic device comprising: a ring portion comprising a first curved surface and a first flat surface adjacent to the first curved surface; and a display portion fixed to the ring portion, the display portion comprising a second curved surface, a second flat surface adjacent to the second curved surface, and a rear surface; and a flexible printed circuit electrically connected to the display portion, wherein the first flat surface of the ring portion and the second flat surface of the display portion overlap with each other, wherein the flexible printed circuit is attached to the rear surface of the display portion and is between the first flat surface of the ring portion and the second flat surface of the display portion, and wherein the second curved surface of the display portion is in direct contact with an edge of the first flat surface of the ring portion.
 2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the first curved surface and the second curved surface have different curved directions.
 3. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is configured to be mounted on a finger.
 4. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the first curved surface comprises a part of a side surface of a cylinder or an elliptical cylinder.
 5. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the ring portion comprises a band-like region, and wherein a width of the band-like region of the ring portion is smaller than a width of the display portion.
 6. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the ring portion comprises an amorphous alloy.
 7. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the display portion comprises a first display region along the second flat surface, wherein the display portion comprises a second display region along the second curved surface, and wherein the electronic device is configured to turn off display on the first display region and turn on display on the second display region during a standby time of the electronic device.
 8. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a housing, wherein the housing comprises a fourth curved surface and a third flat surface adjacent to the fourth curved surface, wherein the second flat surface of the display portion and the third flat surface of the housing overlap each other, and wherein an end portion of the display portion extends beyond an end portion of the housing.
 9. An electronic device comprising: a ring portion comprising a first curved surface and a first flat surface adjacent to the first curved surface; and a display portion fixed to the ring portion, the display portion comprising a second curved surface, a third curved surface, a second flat surface adjacent to the second curved surface, and a rear surface; and a flexible printed circuit electrically connected to the display portion, wherein the first flat surface of the ring portion and the second flat surface of the display portion overlap with each other, wherein the flexible printed circuit is provided attached to the rear surface of the display portion and is between the first flat surface of the ring portion and the second flat surface of the display portion, wherein the second flat surface is provided between the second curved surface and the third curved surface, and wherein the second curved surface of the display portion is in direct contact with reaches an edge of the first flat surface of the ring portion.
 10. The electronic device according to claim 9, wherein the first curved surface and the second curved surface have different curved directions.
 11. The electronic device according to claim 9, wherein the electronic device is configured to be mounted on a finger.
 12. The electronic device according to claim 9, wherein the first curved surface comprises a part of a side surface of a cylinder or an elliptical cylinder.
 13. The electronic device according to claim 9, wherein the ring portion comprises a band-like region, and wherein a width of the band-like region of the ring portion is smaller than a width of the display portion.
 14. The electronic device according to claim 9, wherein the ring portion comprises an amorphous alloy.
 15. The electronic device according to claim 9, wherein the display portion comprises a first display region along the second flat surface, wherein the display portion comprises a second display region along the second curved surface, and wherein the electronic device is configured to turn off display on the first display region and turn on display on the second display region during a standby time of the electronic device.
 16. The electronic device according to claim 9, further comprising a housing, wherein the housing comprises a fourth curved surface and a third flat surface adjacent to the fourth curved surface, wherein the second flat surface of the display portion and the third flat surface of the housing overlap each other, and wherein an end portion of the display portion extends beyond an end portion of the housing. 